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PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 









































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PERRAULT’S 

FAIRY TALES 


Adapted by 

EDWIN GILE RICH 

Author of “ Why-So-Stories,” etc* 



BOSTON 

SMALL, MAYNARD & COMPANY 
PUBLISHERS 



COPTBIGHT, 1922 

By SMALL, MAYNARD AND COMPANY 

(Incorporated) 


Printed in the United States of America 


THE MURRAY PRINTING COMPANY 
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 


JAN 18 *23 

©C1AG9S246 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The Sleeping Beauty . 3 

Little Red Riding-Hood. 14 

Blue Beard. 17 

Master Cat, or. Puss in Boots. 24 

The Fairies. 30 

Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper. 34 

Riquet With the Tuft. 42 

Little Thumbling. 51 

Beauty and the Beast. 62 

Gracieuse and Percinet. 82 

The Benevolent Frog .110 

Princess Rosette .134 

The Fair with Golden Hair.154 

The Blue Bird . 172 

Princess Printaniere.219 



















PERU AULT’S FAIRY TALES 



THE SLEEPING BEAUTY 


T HERE were once a King and Queen, who were very 
unhappy because they had no children. In course 
of time, however, a little daughter was born to them. 
There was a splendid christening. For godmothers the 
young Princess had all the fairies they could find in the 
country, seven in number, so that every one of them could 
confer a gift on her, as was the custom of fairies then. After 
the ceremony was over, all the company returned to the 
Kin g’s palace, where a great banquet had been prepared 
for the fairies. The table was magnificently laid for them, 
and each had placed for her a massive gold case containing 
a spoon, a fork, and a knife of fine gold, set with diamonds 
and rubies. 

But as they were all taking their seats they saw an old 
fairy enter who had not been invited, for every one thought 
that she was either dead or enchanted, as she had not been 
outside the tower in which she lived for upwards of fifty 
years. The King ordered a cover to be laid for her but there 
was no possibility of giving her a massive gold case, such 
as the others had, because there had been only seven made 
expressly for the seven fairies. The old fairy thought she 
was slighted, and muttered threats between her teeth. One 
of the young fairies, who sat near her, overheard her grum¬ 
blings, and was afraid she might bestow some evil gift on 
the young Princess. Accordingly, as soon as they rose from 

[ 3 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


table, she went and hid behind the curtains, in order to be 
the last to speak, and so enable herself to repair, as far as 
possible, any harm the old fairy might have done. Mean¬ 
while the fairies began bestowing their gifts on the Princess. 
The youngest, as her gift, promised that she should be the 
most beautiful person in the world; the next fairy, that 
she should have the mind of an angel; the third, that every 
movement of hers should be full of grace; the fourth, that 
she should dance to perfection; the fifth, that she should 
sing like a nightingale; the sixth, that she should play on 
every kind of instrument in the most exquisite manner 
possible. It was now the turn of the old fairy, and she said 
while her head shook more with spite than with age, that 
the Princess should pierce her hand with a spindle, and 
die of the wound. 

The whole company trembled when they heard this 
terrible prediction. At this very moment the young fairy 
advanced from behind the tapestry, and said, speaking that 
all might hear: 

“Assure yourselves. King and Queen; your daughter 
shall not die of the wound. It is true that I have not sufficient 
power to undo entirely what my elder has done. The Princess 
will pierce her hand with a spindle, but, instead of dying, 
she will only fall into a deep sleep, which will last a hundred 
years, at the end of which a king’s son will come and wake 
her.” 

The King immediately sent forth a proclamation for¬ 
bidding every one, on pain of death, either to spin with a 
spindle or to have spindles in their possession. 

[ 4 ] 


THE SLEEPING BEAUTY 


Fifteen or sixteen years had passed, when, the King 
and Queen being absent at one of their country houses, 
it happened that the Princess, while running about the 
castle one day, and up the stairs from one room to the other, 
came to a little garret at the top of a turret, where an old 
woman sat alone spinning with distaff and spindle, for this 
good woman had never heard the King’s proclamation for¬ 
bidding the use of the spindle. 

“What are you doing there?” asked the Princess. 

“I am spinning, my pretty child,” answered the old 
woman, who did not know who the Princess was. 

“Oh, how pretty it is!” exlcaimed the Princess. “How 
do you do it? Give it to me, so I may see if I can do it as 
well.” 

She had no sooner taken hold of the spindle, than, being 
too quick, and rather heedless, and, moreover, the fairies 
having ordained that it should be so, she pierced her hand 
with the point of it and fainted away. The poor old woman 
was in great distress and called for help. People came run¬ 
ning from all quarters. They threw water in the Princess’s 
face; they unlaced her dress; they slapped her hands; but 
nothing would bring her to. The King, who had run upstairs 
at the noise, then remembered the prediction of the fairies. 
He ordered the Princess to be carried into a beautiful room 
of the palace, and laid on a bed embroidered with silver 
and gold. 

The King gave orders that they should let her sleep 
quietly till the time came for her to awake. The good fairy 
who had saved her life by condemning her to sleep a hundred 

[ 5 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


years was in the kingdom of Matakin, twelve thousand 
leagues off, when this accident befell the Princess; but she 
was instantly informed of it by a little dwarf, who had seven- 
leagued boots, that is, boots with which he could stride over 
seven leagues of ground at once. The fairy started off at 
once, and arrived, about an hour later, in a fiery chariot 
drawn by dragons. 

The King handed her out of the chariot, and she approved 
everything he had done; but as she had very great foresight, 
she thought that when the Princess should awake she might 
not know what to do with herself, if she was all alone in 
this old palace. This was what she did: she touched with 
her wand everything in the palace (except the King and 
Queen), — governesses, maids of honor, ladies of the bed¬ 
chamber, gentlemen, officers, stewards, cooks, undercooks, 
kitchen maids, guards with their porters, pages, and footmen; 
she likewise touched all the horses which were in the stables, 
the cart horses, the hunters and the saddle horses, the grooms, 
the great dogs in the outward court, and little Mopsey, too, 
the Princess’s spaniel, which was lying on the bed. 

As soon as she touched them they all fell asleep, not to 
awake again until their mistress did, that they might be 
ready to wait upon her when she wanted them. The very 
spits at the fire, as full as they could hold of partridges and 
pheasants, fell asleep, and the fire itself as well. 

The King and Queen now kissed their dear daughter, 
who still slept on. Then leaving the castle, they issued a 
proclamation forbidding any person whomsoever to approach 
it. These orders were unnecessary, for in a quarter of an 

[ 6 ] 


THE SLEEPING BEAUTY 


hour there grew up around the park such a number of trees, 
large and small, of brambles and thorns interlacing each 
other, that neither man nor beast could have got through 
them, and nothing could be now seen of the castle but the 
tops of the turrets, and they only from a considerable dis¬ 
tance. Nobody doubted that this also was some of the 
fairy’s handiwork, in order that the Princess might be 
protected from the curiosity of strangers during her long 
slumber. 

When the hundred years had passed away, the King 
upon the throne was of another family than that of the 
sleeping Princess; and his son having been hunting in the 
neighborhood, inquired what towers they were that he saw 
above the trees of a very thick wood. Everyone answered 
as he had heard. Some said it was an old castle haunted 
by ghosts; others, that all the witches of the country held 
their midnight revels there. The more general opinion was 
that it was the house of an ogre, who carried thither all the 
children he could catch, in order to eat them at his leisure 
and without being pursued, for he alone had the power of 
making his way through the wood. 

The Prince did not know what to believe of all this, 
until an old peasant said to him, “Prince, it is more than 
fifty years since I heard my father say that there was in 
that castle the most beautiful Princess ever seen; that she 
was to sleep for a hundred years, and would be awakened 
by a king’s son.” 

The young Prince, at these words, felt himself all on 
fire. He had not a moment’s doubt that he was the one 

[ 7 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


chosen to accomplish this famous adventure, and urged to 
the deed by love and glory, he resolved, without delay, to 
see what would come of it. 

Scarcely had he approached the wood, when all those 
great trees, all those brambles and thorns, made way for 
him to pass of their own accord. He walked towards the 
castle, which he saw at the end of a long avenue, and he 
was somewhat surprised to find that none of his people had 
been able to follow him, the trees having closed up again 
as soon as he had passed. Nevertheless, he continued to 
advance. He came to a large fore-court, where everything 
he saw might well have frozen his blood with terror. A 
frightful silence reigned around; death seemed everywhere. 
On every side, nothing was to be seen but the bodies of 
men and animals stretched out apparently lifeless. 

He next passed through a large courtyard, ascended 
the staircase, and entered the guardroom, where the guards 
stood, drawn up in line and snoring their loudest. He went 
through several rooms with ladies and gentlemen all asleep, 
some standing, others seated. At last he came to one covered 
with gold, and there on a bed, the curtains of which were 
open on either side, he saw the most lovely sight he had 
ever looked upon — a Princess, who appeared to be about 
fifteen or sixteen, and whose dazzling beauty shone with 
a radiance which scarcely seemed to belong to this world. 
He approached, trembling and admiring, and knelt down 
beside her. 

At that moment, the enchantment being ended, the 
Princess awoke, and gazing at him for the first time with 

[ 8 ] 


THE SLEEPING BEAUTY 


unexpected tenderness, “Is it you, my Prince?” she said; 
“I have waited long for you to come.” The Prince, charmed 
at these words, and still more by the tone in which they 
were uttered, did not know how to express his joy and grat¬ 
itude. He assured her that he loved her better than himself. 

In the meanwhile, all the palace had been roused at the 
same time as the Princess. Everybody remembered his 
or her duty, and, as they were not all in love, they were 
dying with hunger. The lady-in-waiting, as hungry as any 
of them, became impatient, and announced loudly to the 
Princess that the meat was on the table. The Prince assisted 
the Princess to rise. She was fully dressed, and most mag¬ 
nificently, but he was careful not to tell her that she was 
dressed like his grandmother. 

They passed into a hall of mirrors, where they supped, 
waited upon by the officers of the Princess. The violins 
and hautboys played old but charming pieces of music, and 
after supper, without loss of time, the grand almoner married 
the royal lovers in the chapel of the castle. 

Early next morning the Prince returned to the city, 
where he knew his father would be in anxiety about him. 
The Prince told him that he had lost his way in the forest 
whilst hunting, and that he had slept in the hut of a wood¬ 
cutter, who had given him black bread and cheese to eat. 

The King, his father, who was a simple-minded man, 
believed him, but his mother was not so easily satisfied. 
She noticed that he went hunting nearly every day, and 
had always some story ready as an excuse, when he had 
slept two or three nights away from home, and so she felt 

[ 9 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


quite sure that he had a lady-love. More than two years 
went by and the Princess had two children, the first, a girl, 
was named Aurora; and the second, a son, was called Day, 
because he was still more beautiful than his sister. 

The Queen, hoping to find out the truth from her son, 
often said to him that he ought to form some attachment, 
but he never dared to trust her with his secret. Although 
he loved her, he feared her, for she was of the race of ogres, 
and the King had only married her on account of her great 
riches. It was even whispered about the court that she 
had the tastes of an ogress, and that when she saw little 
children passing, it was with the greatest difficulty that 
she restrained herself from pouncing upon them. 

On the death of the King, which took place two years 
later, the Prince, being now his own master, made a public 
declaration of his marriage, and went in great state to bring 
the Queen, his wife, to the palace. She made a magnificent entry 
into the capital, with her two children, one on either side of her. 

Some time afterwards the new King went to war with 
his neighbor, the Emperor Cantalabute. He left the Queen, 
his mother. Regent of the Kingdom, earnestly recommending 
to her care his wife and children. He was likely to be all 
summer in the field, and he had no sooner left than the 
Queen-mother sent her daughter-in-law and the children 
to a country house in the wood, so that she might more 
easily gratify her horrible longing. She followed them thither 
a few days after, and one evening said to her head cook, 
“I will eat little Aurora for dinner tomorrow.” 

“Ah, madam!” exclaimed the cook. 

[ 10 ] 


THE SLEEPING BEAUTY 


“I will,” said the Queen, and she said it in the voice 
of an ogress longing to eat fresh meat; “and I will have 
her served with my favorite sauce.” 

The poor man, seeing plainly that an ogress was not to 
be trifled with, took his great knife and went up to little 
Aurora’s room. She was then about four years old, and 
came jumping and laughing to throw her arms about his 
neck and ask him for sweets. He burst into tears and the 
knife fell from his hands; then he went down again and into 
the farmyard, and there killed a little lamb, which he served 
up with so delicious a sauce that his mistress assured him 
she had never eaten anything so excellent. In the meanwhile, 
he had carried off little Aurora, and given her to his wife, 
that she might hide her in the lodging which she occupied 
at the farther end of the farmyard. A week later, the wicked 
Queen said to her head cook, “I will eat little Day for supper.” 
He made no reply, having decided in his own mind to deceive 
her as before. 

He went in search of little Day, and found him with a 
tiny foil in his hand, fencing with a great monkey, though 
he was only three years old. He carried the child to his 
wife, who hid him where she had hidden his sister, and then 
cooked a very tender little kid in the place of little Day, 
which the ogress thought wonderfully good. All had gone 
well enough so far, but one evening this wicked Queen said 
to the head cook, “I should like to eat the Queen with the 
same sauce that I had with the children.” 

Then the poor cook was indeed in despair, for he did not 
know how he should be able to deceive her. The young 

[ 11 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


Queen was over twenty years of age, without counting the 
hundred years she had slept, and no longer such tender 
food, although her skin was still white and beautiful, and 
where among all his animals should he find one old enough 
to take her place? 

He decided at last that, to save his own life, he would 
kill the Queen, and he went up to her room, determined 
to carry out his purpose without delay. He worked himself 
up into a passion, and entered the young Queen’s room, 
dagger in hand. He did not wish, however, to take her by 
surprise, and so he repeated to her, very respectfully, the 
order he had received from the Queen-mother. “Do your 
duty,” she said, stretching out her neck to him; “obey the 
orders that have been given to you. I shall again see my 
children, my poor children, whom I loved so dearly,” for 
she had thought them dead, ever since they had been carried 
away from her without a word of explanation. 

“No, no, madam!” replied the poor cook, all in tears, 
“you shall not die, and you shall see your children again, 
but it will be in my own house, where I have hidden them; 
I will again deceive the Queen-mother by serving up to her 
a young deer in your stead.” 

He led her forthwith to his own apartments, then, leaving 
her to embrace her children and weep with them, he went 
and prepared a deer, which the Queen ate at her supper 
with as much appetite as if it had been the young Queen. 
She exulted in her cruelty, and intended to tell the King, 
on his return, that some ferocious wolves had devoured 
the Queen, his wife, and her two children. 

[ 12 ] 


THE SLEEPING BEAUTY 


One evening, while she was prowling, as usual, round 
the courts and poultry-yards of the castle, to smell the fresh 
meat, she overheard little Day crying in one of the lower 
rooms, because the Queen, his mother, was about to whip 
him for being naughty, and she also heard little Aurora 
begging forgiveness for her brother. The ogress recognized 
the voices of the Queen and her children, and, furious at 
having been deceived, she gave orders, in a voice that made 
everybody tremble, that the next morning early there should 
be brought into the middle of the court a large copper, which 
she had filled with toads, vipers, adders, and serpents, in 
order to throw into it the Queen and her children, the head 
cook, his wife, and his maid-servant. She further com¬ 
manded that they should be brought thither with their 
hands tied behind them. 

There they stood, and the executioners were preparing 
to fling them into the copper, when the King, who was not 
expected back so soon, entered the courtyard on horseback. 
He had ridden post-haste, and in great astonishment asked 
what was the meaning of this horrible spectacle? No one 
dared tell him, when the ogress, enraged at what she saw, 
flung herself head foremost into the copper, where she was 
instantly eaten by the horrid reptiles, with which she had 
herself caused it to be filled. The King could not help being 
sorry for it; she was his mother; but he quickly consoled 
himself with his beautiful wife and children. 


[ 13 ] 


LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD 


O NCE upon a time there was a little village girl, the 
prettiest ever seen or known, of whom her mother 
. Was very fond. Her grandmother was even fonder 
of her still, and had a little red hood made for the child, 
which suited her so well that wherever she went she was 
known by the name of Little Red Riding-Hood. 

One day, her mother having baked some cakes, said to 
her, “Go and see how your grandmother is getting on, for 
I have been told she is ill; take her a cake and this little 
jar of butter.” Whereupon Little Red Riding-Hood started 
off without delay towards the village in which her grand¬ 
mother lived. On her way she had to pass through a wood, 
and there she met that sly old fellow, Mr. Wolf, who felt 
that he should very much like to eat her up on the spot, 
but was afraid to do so, as there were woodcutters nearby 
in the forest. 

He asked her which way she was going, and the poor 
child, not knowing how dangerous it is to stop and listen 
to a wolf, answered: “I am going to see my grandmother, 
and am taking a cake and a little jar of butter, which my 
mother has sent her.” 

“Does she live far from here?” asked the Wolf. 

“Oh, yes!” replied Little Red Riding-Hood, “on the 
farther side of the mill that you see down there; hers is the 
first house in the village.” 


[ 14 ] 




t 








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LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD 


“Well, I was thinking of going to visit her myself,” 
rejoined the Wolf, “so I will take this path, and you take 
the other, and we will see which of us gets there first.” 

The Wolf then began running off as fast as he could 
along the shorter way, which he had chosen, while the little 
girl went by the longer way, and amused herself with stopping 
to gather nuts, or run after butterflies, and with making little 
nosegays of all the flowers she could find. 

It did not take the Wolf long to reach the grandmother’s 
house. He knocked: tap, tap. 

“Who is there?” 

“It is your grand-daughter, Little Red Riding-Hood,” 
answered the Wolf, imitating the child’s voice. “I have 
brought a cake and a little jar of butter, which my mother 
has sent you.” 

The good grandmother, who was ill in bed, called out, 
“Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up.” The Wolf 
pulled the bobbin, and the door opened. He leaped on to 
the poor old woman, and ate her up in less than no time, 
for he had been three days without food. He then shut the 
door again, and laid himself down in the grandmother’s 
bed, to wait for Little Red Riding-Hood. Presently she 
came and knocked at the door: tap, tap. 

“Who is there?” Little Red Riding-Hood was fright¬ 
ened at first, on hearing the Wolf’s gruff voice, but thinking 
that her grandmother had a cold, she answered: 

“It is your grand-daughter. Little Red Riding-Hood. 
I have brought a cake and a little jar of butter, which my 
mother has sent you.” 


[ 15 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


The Wolf called out, this time in rather a softer voice, 
“Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up.” Little Red 
Riding-Hood pulled the bobbin, and the door opened. 

When the Wolf saw her come in, he hid himself under 
the bedclothes, and said to her, “Put the cake and the little 
jar of butter in the cupboard, and come into bed with me.” 

Little Red Riding-Hood undressed, and went to the 
bedside, and was very much astonished to see how different 
her grandmother looked to what she did when she was up 
and dressed. 

“Grandmother,” she exclaimed, “what long arms you 
have!” 

“All the better to hug you with, my little girl.” 

“Grandmother, what long legs you have!” 

“All the better to run with, child.” 

“Grandmother, what long ears you have!” 

“All the better to hear with, child.” 

“Grandmother, what large eyes you have!” 

“All the better to see with, child.” 

“Grandmother, what large teeth you have!” 

“All the better to eat you with!” and saying these words, 
the wicked Wolf sprang out upon Little Red Riding-Hood 
and ate her up. 


[ 16 ] 


BLUE BEARD 


O NCE upon a time there was a man who had fine 
houses in town and country, gold and silver plate, 
embroidered furniture, and coaches gilded all over; 
but, unfortunately, this man had a blue beard, which made 
him look so ugly and terrible, that there was not a woman 
or girl who did not run away from him. 

One of his neighbors, a lady of rank, had two daughters, 
who were perfectly beautiful. He proposed to marry one 
of them, leaving the mother to choose which of the two 
she would give him. Neither of the daughters, however, 
would marry a man with a blue beard. A further reason 
which they had for disliking him was, that he had already 
been married several times, and nobody knew what had 
become of his wives. Blue Beard, in order to improve the 
acquaintance, took the girls with their mother, three or 
four of their most intimate friends, and some other young 
people who resided in the neighborhood to one of his country 
seats, where they spent an entire week. Nothing was thought 
of but excursions, hunting and fishing-parties, balls, enter¬ 
tainments, and suppers. Nobody went to bed; the whole 
night was passed in games and playing tricks on one another. 
In short, all went off so well, that the youngest daughter 
began to think that the beard of the master of the house 
was not so blue as it used to be, and that he was a very 
worthy man. Indeed she agreed to marry him, and imme- 

[ 17 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


diately upon their return to town the marriage took place. 

At the end of a month, Blue Beard told his wife that 
he was obliged to take a journey, which would keep him 
away from home for six weeks at least, as he had business 
of great importance to attend to. He begged her to amuse 
herself as well as she could during his absence, to invite 
her best friends, and, if she liked, take them into the country, 
and wherever she was, to have the best of everything for 
the table. 

“Here,” said he to her, “are the keys of my two large 
storerooms. These are those of the chests in which the gold 
and silver plate, not in general use, is kept; these are the 
keys of the strong boxes in which I keep my money; these 
open the caskets that contain my jewels, and this is the 
master-key of all the rooms. As for this little key, it is that 
of the closet at the end of the long gallery on the ground 
floor. Open everything, and go everywhere except into 
that little closet, which I forbid you to enter, and I forbid 
you so strictly, that if you should venture to open the door, 
there is nothing that you may not have to dread from my 
anger!” She promised to obey his orders to the letter, and 
after having kissed her, he got into his coach and set out 
on his journey. 

The friends and neighbors of the young bride did not 
wait for her invitation, so eager were they to see all the rich 
treasures in the house, and not having ventured to visit 
her while her husband was at home, so frightened were 
they at his blue beard. They were soon to be seen running 
through all the rooms, and into the closets and wardrobes, 

[IB] 


BLUE BEARD 


each of which was more beautiful than the last. Then they 
went upstairs to the storerooms, where they could not 
sufficiently express their admiration at the number and 
beauty of the hangings, the beds, the sofas, the cabinets, 
the elegant little stands, the tables, the mirrors in which 
they could see themselves from head to foot, framed, some 
with glass, some with silver, some with gilt metal, all of a 
richness beyond what had ever before been seen. They 
never ceased envying the good fortune of their friend, who, 
meanwhile, took no pleasure in the sight of all these treasures, 
so great was her longing to go and open the door of the closet 
on the ground floor. Her curiosity at last reached such a 
pitch that, without stopping to consider how rude it was to 
leave her guests, she ran down a little back staircase leading 
to the closet, and in such haste that she nearly broke her 
neck two or three times before she reached the bottom. At 
the door of the closet she paused for a moment, calling to 
mind her husband’s command, and reflecting that trouble 
might fall upon her for her disobedience; but the temptation 
was so strong that she could not resist it. So she took the 
little key, and with a trembling hand opened the door of 
the closet. 

At first she could distinguish nothing, for the windows 
were closed. In a few minutes, however, she began to see 
that the floor was covered with blood, which reflected the 
bodies of several dead women hanging on the walls. These 
were all the wives of Blue Beard, who had killed them one 
after another. She was ready to die with fright, and the 
key, which she had taken out of the lock, fell from her hand. 

[ 19 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


After recovering her senses a little, she picked up the 
key, locked the door again, and went up to her room to 
try and compose herself; but she found it impossible to 
quiet her agitation. 

She now saw that the key of the closet was stained with 
blood; she wiped it two or three times, but the blood would 
not come off. In vain she washed it, and even scrubbed 
it with sand and free-stone, the stain was still there, for the 
key was an enchanted one, and there were no means of 
cleaning it completely; when the blood was washed off one 
side, it came back on the other. 

Blue Beard returned that very evening, and said that 
he had received letters on the road, telling him that the 
business on which he was going had been settled to his 
advantage. 

His wife did all she could to make him believe that she 
was delighted at his speedy return. 

The next morning he asked her for his keys again. She 
gave them to him; but her hand trembled so, that he had 
not much difficulty in guessing what had happened. 

“How comes it,” said he, “that the key of the closet is 
not with the others?” 

“I must have left it,” she replied, “upstairs on my 
table.” 

“Fail not,” said Blue Beard, “to give it to me presently.” 

After several excuses, she was obliged to go and bring 
the key. Blue Beard having examined it, said to his wife, 
“Why is there blood on this key?” 

“I don’t know,” answered the poor wife, paler than death. 

■[ 20 ] 










































































- 
































BLUE BEARD 


“You don’t know!” rejoined Blue Beard; “I know well 
enough. You must needs go into the closet. Well, madam, 
you shall go in again, and take your place among the ladies 
you saw there.” 

She flung herself at her husband’s feet, weeping and 
begging his pardon, with all the signs of a true repentance 
at having disobeyed him. Her beauty and sorrow might 
have melted a rock, but Blue Beard had a heart harder 
than rock. 

“You must die, madam,” said he, “and at once.” 

“If I must die,” she replied, looking at him with stream¬ 
ing eyes, “give me a little time to say my prayers.” 

“I give you half a quarter of an hour,” answered Blue 
Beard, “not a minute more.” 

As soon as she found herself alone, she called her sister, 
and said to her, “Sister Anne” — for so she was named — 
“go up, I pray you, to the top of the tower, and see if my 
brothers are not in sight. They promised they would come 
to visit me today, and if you see them, sign to them to 
make haste.” 

Sister Anne mounted to the top of the tower, and the 
poor unhappy wife called to her from time to time, “Anne! 
Sister Anne! do you not see anything coming?” and Sister 
Anne answered her: 

“I see nothing but the dust turning gold in the sun, 
and the grass growing green.” 

Meanwhile, Blue Beard, with a large cutlass in his hand, 
called out with all his might to his wife, “Come down quickly, 
or I shall come up there.” 


[ 21 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


“One minute more, if you please,” replied his wife; and 
then said quickly in a low voice, “Anne! Sister Anne! do 
you not see anything coming?” 

And sister Anne answered, “I see nothing but the dust 
turning gold in the sun, and the grass growing green.” 

“Come down quickly,” roared Blue Beard, “or I shall 
come up there.” 

“I am coming,” answered his wife; and then called “Anne! 
Sister Anne! do you not see anything coming?” 

“I see a great cloud of dust moving this way,” said 
Sister Anne. 

“Is it my brothers?” 

“Alas! no, sister, only a flock of sheep.” 

“Will you not come down?” shouted Blue Beard. 

“One minute more,” replied his wife; and then she cried, 
“Anne! Sister Anne! do you not see anything coming?” 

“I see two horsemen coming this way,” she replied, 
“but they are still a great distance off. Heaven be praised!” 
she exclaimed a moment afterwards, “they are my brothers! 
I am making all the signs I can to hasten them.” 

Blue Beard began to roar so loudly that the whole house 
shook again. The poor wife went down and threw herself 
at his feet with weeping eyes and dishevelled hair. “It is 
of no use,” said Blue Beard; “you must die!” Then, taking 
her by the hair with one hand, and raising the cutlass with 
the other, he was about to cut off her head. 

The poor wife, turning towards him her dying eyes, 
begged him to give her one short moment to collect herself. 
“No, no,” said he; “commend yourself to heaven,” and 

[ 22 ] 


BLUE BEARD 


lifting his arm — At this moment there was such a loud 
knocking at the gate that Blue Beard stopped short. It 
was opened, and two horsemen were immediately seen to 
enter, who, drawing their swords, ran straight at Blue Beard. 
He recognized them as the brothers of his wife; one a dragoon, 
the other a musketeer, and he therefore fled at once, hoping 
to escape; but they pursued him so closely that they overtook 
him before he could reach the steps to his door, and, running 
their swords through his body, left him dead on the spot. 
The poor wife was almost as dead as her husband, and had 
not strength to rise and embrace her brothers. 

It was found that Blue Beard had left no heirs, and so 
his widow came into possession of all his property. She 
employed part of it in marrying her Sister Anne to a man 
who had long loved her; another part in buying captains’ 
commissions for her two brothers; and with the remainder 
she married herself to a very worthy man, who made her 
forget the dreadful time she had passed with Blue Beard. 


[ 23 ] 


MASTER CAT; OR, PUSS IN BOOTS 


NCE upon a time a miller bequeathed to his three 



sons all he possessed of worldly goods, which con- 


sisted only of his Mill, his Ass, and his Cat. It did 
not take long to divide the property, and neither notary nor 
attorney was called in; they would soon have eaten up the 
poor little property. The eldest son had the Mill; the second 
son, the Ass; and the youngest had nothing but the Cat. 

The latter was very unhappy at having such a poor share 
of the inheritance. “My brothers,” said he, “may be able 
to earn an honest livelihood by entering into partnership; 
but, as for me, when I have eaten my Cat and made a muff 
of his skin, I must die of hunger. ” 

The Cat, who had heard this speech, although he had not 
appeared to do so, said to him with a sedate and serious air, 
“Do not be troubled, master; you have only to give me 
a bag, and get a pair of boots made for me in which I can 
go among the bushes, and you will see that you are not 
left so badly off as you believe.” Though his master did 
not place much reliance on the Cat’s words, he had seen 
him play such cunning tricks in catching rats and mice, 
that he was not altogether without hope of being helped 
by him out of his distress. 

As soon as the Cat had what he asked for, he boldly 
pulled on his boots, and, hanging his bag round his neck, 
took the strings of it in his forepaws, and started off for 


[ 24 ] 


MASTER CAT OR PUSS IN BOOTS 


a warren where there were a great number of rabbits. He 
put some bran and sow-thistles in his bag, and then, stretching 
himself out as if he were dead, he waited till some young 
rabbit, little versed in the wiles of the world, should come 
and poke his way into the bag, in order to eat what was 
inside it. 

He had hardly laid himself down before he had the pleasure 
of seeing a young scatterbrain of a rabbit get into the bag, 
whereupon Master Cat pulled the strings, caught it, and 
killed it without mercy. Proud of his prey, he went to the 
palace, and asked to speak to the King. He was ushered 
upstairs and into the state apartment, and, after making 
a low bow to the King, he said, “Sire, here is a wild rabbit, 
which my Lord the Marquis of Carabas”— for such was 
the title he had taken a fancy to give to his master — “has 
ordered me to present, with his duty, to your Majesty. ” 

“Tell your master,” replied the King, “that I thank him 
and am pleased with his gift.” 

Another day the Cat went and hid himself in the wheat, 
keeping the mouth of his bag open as before, and as soon as 
he saw that a brace of partridges had run inside, he pulled 
the strings, and so took them both. He went immediately 
and presented them to the King, as he had the rabbits. The 
King was equally grateful at receiving the brace of partridges, 
and ordered drink to be given him. 

For the next two or three months, the Cat continued in 
this manner, taking presents of game at intervals to the 
King, as if from his master. One day, when he knew the 
King was going to drive on the banks of the river, with his 

[ 25 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


daughter, the most beautiful Princess in the world, he said 
to his master, “If you will follow my advice, your fortune 
is made; you have only to go and bathe in a part of the river 
I will point out to you, and then leave the rest to me.” 

The Marquis of Carabas did as his Cat advised him, 
without knowing what good would come of it. While he 
was bathing, the King passed by, and the Cat began to 
call out with all his might, “Help! Help! My Lord the 
Marquis of Carabas is drowning!” Hearing the cry, the 
King looked out of the coach window, and recognizing the 
Cat who had so often brought him game, he ordered his 
guards to fly to the help of my Lord the Marquis of Carabas. 
Whilst they were getting the poor Marquis out of the river, 
the Cat went up to the royal coach, and told the King that, 
while his master had been bathing, some robbers had come 
and carried off his clothes, although he had shouted, “Stop 
thief,” as loud as he could. The rogue had hidden them 
himself under a large stone. The King immediately ordered 
the officers of his wardrobe to go and fetch one of his 
handsomest suits for my Lord the Marquis of Carabas. 
The King embraced him a thousand times, and as the fine 
clothes they dressed him in set off his good looks — for he 
was handsome and well made — the Marquis of Carabas 
quite took the fancy of the King’s daughter, and after he 
had cast two or three respectful and rather tender glances 
towards her, she fell very much in love with him. The King 
insisted upon his getting into the coach, and accompanying 
them in their drive. The Cat, delighted to see that his plans 
were beginning to succeed, ran on before, and coming across 
[ 26 ] 


MASTER CAT OR PUSS IN BOOTS 


some peasants who were mowing a meadow, he said to them, 
“You, good people, who are mowing here, if you do not tell 
the King that this meadow you are mowing belongs to my 
Lord the Marquis of Carabas, you shall all be cut in pieces 
as small as minced meat . 55 The King did not fail to ask the 
peasants whose meadow it was they were mowing. 

“It belongs to my Lord the Marquis of Carabas,” said 
they all together, for the Cat’s threat had frightened them. 

“You have a fine property there,” said the King to the 
Marquis of Carabas. 

“As you say, sire,” responded the Marquis of Carabas, 
“for it is a meadow which yields an abundant crop every 
year. ” 

Master Cat, who still kept in advance of the party, came 
up to some reapers, and said to them, “You, good people, 
who are reaping, if you do not say that all this corn belongs 
to my Lord the Marquis of Carabas, you shall all be cut 
into pieces as small as minced meat.” 

The King, who passed by a minute afterwards, wished to 
know to whom belonged all the corn-fields he saw. “To 
my Lord the Marquis of Carabas,” repeated the reapers, 
and the King again congratulated the Marquis on his 
property. 

The Cat, still continuing to run before the coach, uttered 
the same threat to every one he met, and the King was 
astonished at the great wealth of my Lord the Marquis of 
Carabas. Master Cat at length arrived at a fine castle, 
the owner of which was an ogre; the richest ogre ever known, 
for all the lands through which the King had driven belonged 

[ 27 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


to the Lord of this castle. The Cat took care to find out 
who the ogre was, and what he was able to do. Then he 
asked to speak with him, saying that he did not like to pass 
so near his castle without doing himself the honor of paying 
his respects to him. The ogre received him as civilly as an 
ogre can, and made him sit down. 

“I have been told,” said the Cat, “that you have the 
power of changing yourself into all kinds of animals; that 
you could, for instance, transform yourself into a lion or 
an elephant.” 

“ ’Tis true,” said the ogre, abruptly, “and to prove it 
to you, you shall see me become a lion.” The Cat was so 
frightened when he saw a lion in front of him, that he quickly 
scrambled up into the gutter, not without difficulty and 
danger, on account of his boots, which were worse than 
useless for walking on the tiles. Shortly afterwards, seeing 
that the ogre had resumed his natural form, the Cat climbed 
down again, and admitted that he had been terribly frightened. 
“I have also been assured,” said the Cat, “but I cannot 
believe it, that you have the power besides of taking the 
form of the smallest animal; for instance, that of a rat or a 
mouse. I confess to you I hold this to be utterly impossible. ” 

“Impossible!” exclaimed the ogre, “you shall see!” 
and he immediately changed himself into a mouse, and 
began running about the floor. The cat no sooner caught 
sight of it, than he pounced upon it and ate it. 

In the meanwhile, the King, seeing the fine castle of the 
ogre as he was driving past, thought he should like to go 
inside. The Cat, who heard the noise of the coach rolling 
[ 28 ] 


MASTER CAT OR PUSS IN BOOTS 


over the draw-bridge, ran to meet it, and said to the King, 
“Your Majesty is welcome to the Castle of my Lord the 
Marquis of Carabas!” 

“How, my Lord Marquis,” exclaimed the King, “this 
castle belongs to you? Nothing could be finer than this 
courtyard, and all these buildings which surround it. Let 
us see the inside of it, if you please. ” 

The Marquis handed out the young Princess, and 
following the King, who led the way upstairs, they entered 
a grand hall, where they found prepared a magnificent 
repast, which the ogre had ordered in expectation of some 
friends, who were to have visited him that very day, but 
who did not venture to enter when they heard the King 
was there. The King was greatly delighted with the excellent 
qualities of my Lord the Marquis of Carabas, as was also 
his daughter, who became more than ever in love with him; 
and the King, seeing what great wealth he possessed, said 
to him, after having drunk five or six bumpers, “It depends 
entirely on yourself, my Lord Marquis, whether or not you 
become my son-in-law. ” The Marquis, making several 
profound bows, accepted the honor the King offered him, 
and that same day was married to the Princess. 

The Cat became a great lord, and never again ran after 
mice, except for his amusement. 


THE FAIRIES 


T HERE was once a widow who had two daughters. 
The older was so like her mother in temper and face, 
that to have seen the one was to have seen the other. 
They were both so disagreeable and proud, that it was impos¬ 
sible to live with them. The younger, who was the exact 
portrait of her father in her kindly and polite ways, was 
as beautiful a girl as one could see. As we are naturally 
fond of those who resemble us, the mother doted on her 
older daughter, while for the younger she had a most violent 
dislike, and made her take her meals in the kitchen and 
work hard all day. Among other things that she was obliged 
to do, this poor child was forced to go twice a day to bring 
water from a place a mile or more from the house, and carry 
back a large jug filled to the brim. As she was standing one 
day by this spring, a poor woman came up to her, and asked 
the girl to give her some water to drink. 

“Certainly, my good woman,” she replied, and the 
beautiful girl at once stooped and rinsed out the jug, and 
then, filling it with water from the clearest part of the spring, 
she held it up to the woman, continuing to support the jug, 
that she might drink with great comfort. 

Having drunk, the woman said to her, “You are so 
beautiful, so good and kind, that I cannot refrain from 
conferring a gift upon you,” for she was really a fairy, who 
had taken the form of a poor village woman, in order to 

[ 30 ] 


THE FAIRIES 


see how far the girl’s kind-heartedness would go. “This 
gift I make you,” continued the fairy, “that with every 
word you speak, either a flower or a precious stone will fall 
from your mouth.” 

The girl had no sooner reached home than her mother 
began scolding her for being back so late. “I am sorry, 
mother,” said she, “to have been out so long,” and as she 
spoke, there fell from her mouth six roses, two pearls, and 
two large diamonds. 

The mother gazed at her in astonishment. “What do 
I see!” she exclaimed. “Pearls and diamonds seem to be 
dropping from her mouth! How is this, my daughter?” — 
it was the first time she had called her daughter. The poor 
child related in all simplicity what had happened, letting 
fall quantities of diamonds in the course of her narrative. 
‘‘I must certainly send my other daughter there,” said the 
mother. “Look, Fanchon, see what falls from your sister’s 
mouth when she speaks! Would you not be glad to receive 
a similar gift? All you have to do is to go and fetch water 
from the spring, and if an old woman asks you for some to 
drink, to give it her nicely and politely.” 

“I should like to see myself going to the spring,” answered 
the rude, cross girl. 

“I insist on your going,” rejoined the mother, “and that 
at once.” 

The elder girl went off, still grumbling; with her she 
took the handsomest silver bottle she could find in the house. 

She had no sooner arrived at the spring than she saw a 
lady magnificently dressed walking towards her from the 

[ 31 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


wood, who approached and asked for some water to drink. 
It was the same fairy who had appeared to the sister, but 
she had now put on the airs and apparel of a princess, as 
she wished to see how far this girl’s rudeness would go. 

“Do you think I came here just to draw water for you?” 
answered the arrogant and unmannerly girl; “I have, of 
course, brought this silver bottle on purpose for you to 
drink from, and all I have to say is — drink from it if you 
like!” 

“You are scarcely polite,” said the fairy, without losing 
her temper; “however, as you are so disobliging, I confer 
this gift upon you, that with every word you speak a snake 
or a toad shall fall from your mouth.” 

Directly her mother caught sight of her, she called out, 
“Well, my daughter!” 

“Well, my mother!” replied the ill-tempered girl, throwing 
out as she spoke two vipers and a toad. 

“Alack!” cried the mother, “what do I see? This is 
her sister’s doing, but I will pay her out for it,” and, so 
saying, she ran towards the younger girl with intent to 
beat her. The unhappy girl fled from the house, and went 
and hid herself in a neighboring forest. 

The King’s son, who was returning from hunting, met 
her, and seeing how beautiful she was, asked her what she 
Was doing there all alone, and why she was crying. 

“Alas! sir, my mother has driven me from home.” 

The King’s son, seeing five or six pearls and as many 
diamonds falling from her mouth as she spoke, asked her 
to explain how this was, and she told him all her tale. The 

[ 32 ] 


THE FAIRIES 


King’s son fell in love with her, and thinking that such a 
gift as she possessed was worth more than any ordinary 
dower brought by another, he carried her off to his father’s 
palace, and there married her. 

As for her sister, she made herself so hated that her own 
mother drove her from the house. The miserable girl, having 
gone about in vain trying to find some one who would take 
her in, crept away into the corner of a wood, and there died. 


[ 33 ] 


CINDERELLA; OR, THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER 


O NCE upon a time there was a nobleman, who married 
for a second wife the haughtiest and proudest woman 
that had ever been seen. She had two daughters 
who were like her in everything. The husband, on his side, 
had a daughter of unexampled gentleness and goodness. 

The wedding was hardly over before the step-mother’s 
bad temper broke out. She could not endure the young girl, 
whose good qualities made her own daughters appear still 
more detestable. She put her to do all the meanest work 
in the house. It was she who washed up the plates and 
dishes and cleaned the stairs; who scrubbed the step-mother’s 
room and those of her daughters. She slept in a garret at 
the top of the house, on a wretched straw mattress, while 
her sisters occupied rooms with inlaid floors, and had the 
latest fashioned beds, and mirrors in which they could see 
themselves from head to foot. The poor girl bore everything 
with patience, and did not dare complain to her father, 
who would only have scolded her, as he was entirely governed 
by his wife. When she had done her work, she was in the 
habit of going into the chimney-corner and sitting down 
amongst the cinders, which caused her to be nicknamed 
Cindertail by the household in general. The second daughter, 
however, who was not quite so rude as her sister, called her 
Cinderella. Nevertheless, Cinderella in her shabby clothes 

[ 34 ] 


CINDERELLA 


still looked a thousand times more beautiful than her sisters, 
magnificently dressed as they were. 

It happened that the King’s son gave a ball, to which 
he invited every one of position. Our two fine ladies were 
among those who received an invitation, for they made a 
great show in the neighborhood. They were now in great 
delight, and very busy choosing the most becoming gowns 
and head-dresses. A new mortification for poor Cinderella, 
for it was she who had to iron her sisters’ fine linen and 
gauffer their ruffles. No one talked of anything but of the 
style in which they were to be dressed. 

“I,” said the eldest, “will wear my red velvet dress, and 
my English point-lace trimmings.” 

“I,” said the youngest, “shall only wear my usual petti¬ 
coat, but, to make up for that, I shall put on my gold-flowered 
cloak, and my clasp of diamonds, which are none of the 
least valuable.” They sent for a first-rate milliner, that 
their caps might be made to fashion, and they bought their 
patches from the best maker. They called Cinderella to 
give them her opinion, for her taste was excellent. Cinderella 
gave them the best advice in the world, and even offered to 
dress their hair for them, which they were very willing she 
should do. 

Whilst she was busy with the hairdressing, they said 
to her, “ Cinderella, should you be very glad to go to the ball? ” 

“Alas! you only make fun of me; such a thing would 
not be suitable for me at all.” 

“You are right; they would indeed laugh to see a Cinder- 
tail at the ball!” 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


Any other than Cinderella would have dressed their hair 
awry, but she had a good disposition, and arranged it for 
both of them to perfection. They could eat nothing for 
nearly two days, so transported were they with joy. More 
than a dozen laces were broken in making their waists as 
small as possible, and they were continually before their 
looking-glasses. At last the happy day arrived. They set 
off, and Cinderella followed them with her eyes as long as 
she could. When they were out of sight she began to cry. 
Her godmother, who saw her all in tears, asked her what 
was the matter. “I should so like — I should so like— ” 
she sobbed so violently that she could not finish the sentence. 

“You would so like to go to the ball, is not that it?” 

“Alas! yes,” said Cinderella, sighing. 

“Well, if you will be a good girl, I will undertake that 
you shall go.” She took her into her room, and said to her, 
“Go into the garden and bring me a pumpkin.” Cinderella 
went at once, gathered the finest she could find, and brought 
it to her godmother, wondering the while how a pumpkin 
could enable her to go to the ball. Her godmother scooped 
it out, and, having left nothing but the rind, struck it with 
her wand, and the pumpkin was immediately changed into 
a beautiful coach, gilt all over. She then went and looked 
into the mouse-trap, where she found six mice, all alive. 
She told Cinderella to lift the door of the mouse-trap a little, 
and to each mouse, as it ran out, she gave a tap with her 
wand, and the mouse was immediately changed into a fine 
horse, so that at last there stood ready a handsome train 
of six horses of a beautiful dappled mouse-grey color. Cin- 
[ 36 ] 


CINDERELLA 


derella then brought her the rat-trap, in which there were 
three large rats. The fairy chose one from the three on 
account of its ample beard, and having touched it, it was 
changed into a fat coachman, with the finest whiskers that 
ever were seen. She then said, “Go into the garden, and 
there, behind the watering-pot, you will find six lizards; 
bring them to me.” Cinderella had no sooner brought them 
than the godmother changed them into six footmen, with 
their liveries all covered with lace, who immediately jumped 
up behind the coach, and hung on to it as if they had done 
nothing else all their lives. The fairy then said to Cinderella, 
“Well, there is something in which to go to the ball; are 
you not well pleased?” 

Yes, but am I to go in these dirty old clothes?” Her 
godmother touched her lightly with her wand, and in the 
same instant her dress was changed into one of gold and 
silver covered with precious stones. She then gave her a 
pair of glass slippers, the prettiest in the world. When she 
was thus attired, she got into the coach; but her godmother 
told her, above all things, not to stay past midnight, warning 
her, that if she remained at the ball a minute longer, her 
coach would again become a pumpkin; her horses, mice; 
her footmen, lizards; and her clothes turn again into her 
old ones. She promised her godmother that she would not 
fail to leave the ball before midnight, and drove off, almost 
out of her mind with joy. 

The King’s son, who was informed that a grand Princess 
had arrived whom nobody knew, ran to receive her. He 
handed her out of the coach and led her into the hall, where 
[ 37 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


the guests were assembled. There was immediately a dead 
silence; the dancing stopped, and the fiddlers ceased to 
play, so engaged did every one become in gazing upon the 
wonderful beauty of the unknown lady. Nothing was heard 
but a general murmur of “Oh! how lovely she is!” The 
King himself, old as he was, could not take his eyes from 
her, and observed to the Queen, that it was a long time 
since he had seen so lovely and amiable a person. All the 
ladies were intently occupied in examining her head-dress 
and her clothes, that they might order some like them the 
very next day, provided that they might be able to find 
materials as costly and work-people sufficiently clever to 
make them up. 

The King’s son conducted her to the most honorable 
seat, and then led her out to dance. She danced so gracefully 
that everybody’s admiration of her was increased. A very 
grand supper was served, of which the Prince ate not a 
morsel, so absorbed was he in the contemplation of her 
beauty. She seated herself beside her sisters, and showed 
them a thousand civilities. She shared with them the oranges 
and citrons which the Prince had given her, at which they 
were greatly surprised, for she appeared a perfect stranger 
to them. While they were thus talking together, Cinderella 
heard the clock strike the three-quarters past eleven. She 
at once made a profound curtsey to the company, and left 
as quickly as she could. As soon as she had reached home, 
she went to find her godmother, and after having thanked 
her, said she much wished to go to the ball again next day, 
because the King’s son had invited her. She was telling her 

[ 38 ] 




























. 




































- 




























CINDERELLA 


godmother all that had passed at the ball, when the two 
sisters knocked at the door. Cinderella went and opened it. 
“How late you are!” said she to them, yawning, rubbing 
her eyes, and then stretching herself as if she had but just 
awoke, although she had had no inclination to sleep since 
she parted from them. 

“If you had been at the ball,” said one of her sisters 
to her, “you would not have been weary of it. There came 
to it the most beautiful princess — the most beautiful that 
ever was seen; she paid us many attentions, and gave us 
oranges and citrons.” Cinderella was beside herself with 
delight. She asked them the name of the Princess, but they 
replied that nobody knew her, that the King’s son was much 
puzzled about it, and that he would give everything in the 
world to know who she was. 

Cinderella smiled and said, “She was very lovely, then? 
How fortunate you are! Could not I get a sight of her? 
Alas! Miss Javotte, lend me the yellow gown you wear 
every day.” 

“Truly,” said Miss Javotte, “I like that! Lend one’s 
gown to a dirty Cindertail like you! I should be mad indeed!” 
Cinderella fully expected this refusal, and was rejoiced at 
it, for she would not have known what to do if her sister 
had lent her the gown. 

The next day the sisters went again to the ball, and 
Cinderella also, but still more splendidly dressed than before. 
The King’s son never left her side, or ceased saying tender 
things to her. Cinderella found the evening pass very pleas¬ 
antly, and forgot her godmother’s warning, so that she 

[ 39 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


heard the clock begin to strike twelve while still thinking 
that it was not yet eleven. She rose and fled as lightly as 
a fawn. The Prince followed her, but could not overtake 
her. She dropped one of her glass slippers, which the Prince 
carefully picked up. Cinderella reached home almost breath¬ 
less, without coach or footmen, and in her shabby clothes, 
with nothing remaining of her finery but one of her little 
slippers, the fellow of that which she had dropped. 

The guards at the palace gate were asked if they had not 
seen a Princess pass out. They answered that they had 
seen no one pass but a poorly-dressed girl, who had more 
the appearance of a peasant than of a lady. 

When the tw^o sisters returned from the ball, Cinderella 
asked them if they had been as much entertained as before, 
and if the beautiful lady had been present. They said yes, 
but that she had fled as soon as it had struck twelve. 

A few days afterwards the King’s son caused it to be 
proclaimed by sound of trumpet that he would marry her 
whose foot would exactly fit the slipper. They began by 
trying it on the princesses, then on the duchesses, and so on 
throughout the Court; but in vain. It was taken to the two 
sisters, who did their utmost to force one of their feet into 
the slipper, but they could not manage to do so. Cinderella, 
who was looking on, and who recognized the slipper, said 
laughingly, “Let me see if it will not fit me.” Her sisters 
began to laugh and ridicule her. The gentleman of the 
Court who had been entrusted to try the slipper, having 
looked attentively at Cinderella, and seeing that she was 
very beautiful, said that it was only_fair that her request 
[ 40 ] 


CINDERELLA 


should be granted, as he had received orders to try the 
slipper on all maidens, without exception. He made Cinderella 
sit down, and putting the slipper to her little foot, he saw it 
slip on easily and fit like wax. Great was the astonishment 
of the two sisters, but it was still greater when Cinderella 
took the other little slipper out of her pocket and put it on 
her other foot. At that moment the godmother appeared, 
and gave a tap with her wand to Cinderella’s clothes, which 
became still more magnificent than those she had worn before. 

The two sisters then recognized in her the beautiful 
person they had seen at the ball. They threw themselves at 
her feet to beg for forgiveness for all the ill-treatment she 
had suffered from them. Cinderella raised and embraced 
them, said that she forgave them with all her heart, and 
begged them to love her dearly for the future. She was 
conducted, dressed as she was, to the young Prince. He 
found her more charming than ever, and a few days after¬ 
wards he married her. Cinderella, who was as kind as she 
was beautiful, gave her sisters apartments in the palace, 
and married them the very same day to two great lords of 
the Court. 


[ 41 ] 


RIQUET WITH THE TUFT 


O NCE upon a time there was a Queen who had a son 
so ugly and misshapen that it was doubted for a 
long time whether his form was really human. A 
fairy, who was present at his birth, said, nevertheless, that 
he would be worthy to be loved, as he would have an excellent 
wit and, by virtue of the gift she had bestowed upon him, 
he would be able to impart equal intelligence to the one 
whom he loved best. All this was some consolation to the 
poor Queen, who was much distressed at having brought 
so ugly a little monkey into the world. It is true that the 
child was no sooner able to speak than he said a thousand 
pretty things, and that in all his ways there was a certain 
air of intelligence, with which every one was charmed. I 
had forgotten to say that he was born with a little tuft of 
hair on his head, and so he came to be called Riquet with 
the Tuft; for Riquet was the family name. 

About seven or eight years later, the Queen of a neigh¬ 
boring kingdom had two daughters. The elder was fairer 
than the day, and the Queen was so delighted that it was 
feared some harm might come to her from her great joy. 
The same fairy who had assisted at the birth of little Riquet 
was present upon this occasion, and in order to moderate 
the joy of the Queen, she told her that this little Princess 
would have no gifts of mind at all, and that she would be 
as stupid as she was beautiful. The Queen was greatly 

[ 42 ] 


RIQUET WITH THE TUFT 


mortified on hearing this, but shortly after she was even 
more annoyed when her second little daughter was born 
and proved to be extremely ugly. “Do not distress yourself, 
madam,” said the fairy to her, “your daughter will find 
compensation, for she will have so much intelligence, that 
her lack of beauty will scarcely be perceived.” 

“Heaven send it may be so,” replied the Queen; “but 
are there no means whereby a little more understanding 
might be given to the elder, who is so lovely?” 

“I can do nothing for her in the way of intelligence, 
madam,” said the fairy, “but everything in the way of 
beauty. As, however, there is nothing in my power I would 
not do to give you comfort, I will bestow on her the power 
of conferring beauty on any man or woman who shall please 
her.” 

As these two Princesses grew up, their endowments also 
became more perfect, and nothing was talked of anywhere 
but the beauty of the elder and the intelligence of the younger. 
It is true that their defects also greatly increased with their 
years. The younger became uglier every moment and the 
elder more stupid every day. She either made no answer 
when she was spoken to, or else said something foolish. 
With this she was so clumsy that she could not even place 
four pieces of china on a mantelshelf without breaking one 
of them, or drink a glass of water without spilling half of 
it on her dress. 

Notwithstanding the attraction of beauty, the younger, 
in whatever society they might be, nearly always bore away 
the palm from her sister. At first every one went up to the 

[ 43 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


more beautiful, to gaze at and admire her; but they soon 
left her for the cleverer one, to listen to her many pleasant 
and amusing sayings; and people were astonished to find 
that in less than a quarter of an hour the elder had not a 
soul near her, while all the company had gathered round 
the younger. The elder, though very stupid, noticed this, 
and would have given, without regret, all her beauty for 
half the sense of her sister. Discreet as she was, the Queen 
could not help often reproaching her with her stupidity, 
which made the poor Princess ready to die of grief. 

One day, when she had gone by herself into a wood, to 
weep over her misfortune, she saw approching her a little 
man of very ugly and unpleasant appearance, but mag¬ 
nificently dressed. It was the young Prince Riquet with 
the Tuft, who, having fallen in love with her from seeing 
her portraits, which were sent all over the world, had left 
his father’s kingdom that he might have the pleasure of 
beholding her and speaking to her. Enchanted at meeting 
her thus alone, he addressed her with all the respect and 
politeness imaginable. Having remarked, after paying her 
the usual compliments, that she was very melancholy, he 
said to her, “I cannot understand, madam, how a person 
so beautiful as you are can be so unhappy as you appear; 
for, although I can boast of having seen an infinite number 
of beautiful people, I can say with truth that I have never 
seen one whose beauty could be compared with yours.” 

“You are pleased to say so, sir,” replied the Princess, 
and there she stopped. 

“Beauty,” continued Riquet, “is so great an advantage, 
[ 44 ] 


RIQUET WITH THE TUFT 


that it ought to take the place of every other, and, possessed 
of it, I see nothing that can have power to afflict one.” 

“I would rather,” said the Princess, “be as ugly as you 
are and have intelligence, than possess the beauty I do and 
be so stupid as I am.” 

“There is no greater proof of intelligence, madam, than 
the belief that we have it not; it is the nature of that gift, 
that the more we have, the more we believe ourselves to 
be without it.” 

“1 do not know how that may be,” said the Princess, 
“but I know well enough that I am very stupid, and that 
is the cause of the grief that is killing me.” 

“If that is all that troubles you, madam, I can easily 
put an end to your sorrow.” 

“And how would you do that?” said the Princess. 

“I have the power, madam,” said Riquet with the Tuft, 
“to give as much intelligence as it is possible to possess to 
the person whom I love best; and as you, madam, are that 
person, it will depend entirely upon yourself whether or 
not you become gifted with this amount of intelligence, 
provided that you are willing to marry me.” 

The Princess was struck dumb with astonishment, and 
replied not a word. 

“I see,” said Riquet with the Tuft, “that this proposal 
troubles you, and I am not surprised, but I will give you a 
full year to consider it.” 

The Princess had so little sense, and at the same time 
was so anxious to have a great deal, that she thought the 
end of that year would never come; so she at once accepted 

[ 45 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


the offer that was made her. She had no sooner promised 
Riquet with the Tuft that she would marry him that day 
twelve months, than she felt herself quite another person. 
She found she was able to say whatever she pleased, with a 
readiness past belief, and of saying it in a clever, but easy 
and natural manner. She immediately began a sprightly 
and well-sustained conversation with Riquet with the Tuft, 
and was so brilliant in her talk that Riquet with the Tuft 
began to think he had given her more wit than he had reserved 
for himself. On her return to the palace, the whole Court 
was puzzled to account for a change so sudden and extraor¬ 
dinary. All the Court was in a state of joy not to be described. 
The younger sister alone was not altogether pleased, for, 
having lost her superiority over her sister in the way of 
intelligence, she now only appeared by her side as a very 
unpleasing-looking person. 

The King began to be guided by his elder daughter’s 
advice, and at times even held his Council in her apartments. 
The news of the change of affairs was spread abroad, and 
all the young princes of the neighboring kingdoms exerted 
themselves to gain her affection, and nearly all of them 
asked her hand in marriage. She found none of them, how¬ 
ever, intelligent enough to please her, and she listened to 
all of them, without engaging herself to one. 

At length arrived a Prince, so rich and powerful, so 
clever and so handsome, that she could not help listening 
willingly to his addresses. Her father, having perceived 
this, told her that he left her at perfect liberty to choose a 
husband for herself, and that she had only to make known 

[ 46 ] 


































RIQUET WITH THE TUFT 


her decision. As the more intelligence we possess, the more 
difficulty we find in making up our mind on such a matter 
as this, she begged her father, after having thanked him, 
to allow her time to think about it. 

She went, by chance, to walk in the same wood in which 
she had met Riquet with the Tuft, in order to meditate 
more uninterruptedly over what she had to do. While she 
was walking, deep in thought, she heard a dull sound beneath 
her feet, as of many persons running to and fro, and busily 
occupied. Having listened more attentively, she heard 
one say, “Bring me that saucepan”; another, “Give me 
that kettle”; another, “Put some wood on the fire.” At 
the same moment the ground opened, and she saw beneath 
her what appeared to be a large kitchen, full of cooks, scul¬ 
lions, and all sorts of servants necessary for the preparation 
of a magnificent banquet. There came forth a band of about 
twenty to thirty cooks, who went and established themselves 
in an avenue of the wood at a very long table, and who, 
each with the larding-pin in his hand and the tail of his 
fur cap over his ear, set to work, keeping time to a harmonious 
song. 

The Princess, astonished at this sight, asked the men 
for whom they were working. 

“Madam,” replied the chief among them, “for Prince 
Riquet with the Tuft, whose marriage will take place 
tomorrow.” The Princess, still more surprised than she 
was before, and suddenly recollecting that it was just a 
twelvemonth from the day on which she had promised to 
marry Prince Riquet with the Tuft, was overcome with 

[ 47 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


trouble and amazement. The reason for her not having 
remembered her promise was, that when she made it she 
had been a very foolish person, and when she became gifted 
with the new mind that the Prince had given her, she had 
forgotten all her follies. 

She had not taken another thirty steps when Riquet 
with the Tuft presented himself before her, gaily and 
splendidly attired like a Prince about to be married. “You 
see, madam,” said he, “I keep my word punctually, and 
I doubt not that you have come thither to keep yours, and 
to make me, by the giving of your hand, the happiest of men.” 

“I confess to you, frankly,” answered the Princess, 
“that I have not yet made up my mind on that matter, 
and that I do not think I shall ever be able to do so in the 
way you wish.” 

“You astonish me, madam,” said Riquet with the Tuft. 

“I have no doubt I do,” said the Princess; “and assur¬ 
edly, had I to deal with a stupid person, with a man without 
intelligence, I should feel greatly perplexed. ‘A Princess 
is bound by her word/ he would say to me, ‘and you must 
marry me, since you have promised to do so/ But as the 
person to whom I speak is, of all men in the world, the one 
of greatest sense and understanding, I am certain he will 
listen to reason. You know that, when I was no better than 
a fool, I nevertheless could not decide to marry you. How 
can you expect, now that I have the mind which you have 
given me, and which renders me much more difficult to please 
than before, that I should take today a resolution which 
I could not take then? If you seriously thought of marrying 

[ 48 ] 


RIQUET WITH THE TUFT 


me, you did very wrong to take away my stupidity, and 
so enable me to see more clearly than I saw then.” 

“If a man without intelligence,” replied Riquet with 
the Tuft, “who reproached you with your breach of promise, 
might have a right, as you have just intimated, to be treated 
with indulgence, why would you wish, madam, that I should 
receive less consideration in a matter which affects the entire 
happiness of my life? Is it reasonable that persons of intellect 
should be in a worse position than those that have none? 
Can you assert this — you who have so much, and who 
so earnestly desired to possess it? But let us come to the 
point, if you please. Setting aside my ugliness, is there 
anything in me that displeases you? Are you dissatisfied 
with my birth, my understanding, my temper, or my manners? ” 

“Not in the least,” replied the Princess; “I admire in 
you everything you have mentioned.” 

“If that is so,” rejoined Riquet with the Tuft, “I shall 
soon be happy, as you have it in your power to make me 
the most pleasing looking of men.” 

“How can that be done?” asked the Princess. 

“It can be done,” said Riquet with the Tuft, “if you 
love me sufficiently to wish that it should be. And, in order, 
madam, that you should have no doubt about it, know 
that the same fairy, who, on the day I was born, endowed 
me with the power to give intelligence to the person I chose, 
gave you also the power to render handsome the man you 
should love, and on whom you should wish to bestow this 
favor.” 

“If such be the fact,” said the Princess, “I wish, with 
[ 49 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


all my heart, that you should become the handsomest and 
most lovable Prince in the world, and I bestow the gift on 
you to the fullest extent in my power.” 

The Princess had no sooner pronounced these words 
than Riquet with the Tuft appeared to her eyes, of all men 
in the world, the handsomest, the best made, and most 
attractive she had ever seen. There are some who assert 
that it was not the spell of the fairy, but love alone that 
caused this change. They say that the Princess, having 
reflected on the perseverance of her lover, on his prudence, 
and on all the good qualities of his heart and mind, no longer 
saw the deformity of his body or the ugliness of his features; 
that his hump appeared to her nothing more than a good- 
natured shrug of his shoulders, and that instead of noticing, 
as she had done, how badly he limped, she saw in him only 
a certain lounging air, which charmed her. They say also 
that his eyes, which squinted, only seemed to her the more 
brilliant for this; and that the crookedness of his glance 
was to her merely expressive of his great love; and, finally, 
that his great red nose had in it, to her mind, something 
martial and heroic. However this may be, the Princess 
promised on the spot to marry him, provided he obtained 
the consent of the King, her father. The King, having learned 
that his daughter entertained a great regard for Riquet with 
the Tuft, whom he knew also to be a very clever and wise 
Prince, received him with pleasure as his son-in-law. The 
wedding took place the next morning, as Riquet with the 
Tuft had foreseen, and according to the orders which he 
had given a long time before. 

[ 50 ] 


LITTLE THUMBLING 


O NCE upon a time there was a woodcutter and his 
wife who had seven boys. The eldest was but ten 
years old, and the youngest only seven. People 
wondered that the woodcutter had so many children so near 
in age, but the fact was that several of them were twins. 
He and his wife were very poor, and their seven children 
were a great burden to them, as not one of them was yet 
able to earn his livelihood. What troubled them still more 
was, that the youngest was very delicate, and seldom spoke, 
which they considered a proof of stupidity rather than of 
good sense. He was very diminutive, and, when first born, 
scarcely bigger than one’s thumb, and so they called him 
Little Thumbling. 

This poor child was the scapegoat of the house, and was 
blamed for everything that happened. Nevertheless, he was 
the shrewdest and most sensible of all the brothers, and if 
he spoke little, he listened a great deal. 

There came a year of bad harvest and a famine. One 
evening, when they were all in bed, and the woodcutter was 
sitting over the fire with his wife, he said to her, with an 
aching heart, “You see plainly that we can no longer find 
food for our children. I cannot let them die of hunger before 
my very eyes, and I have made up my mind to take them 
to the wood to-morrow, and there lose them, which will be 

[ 51 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


easily done, for whilst they are busy tying up the faggots, 
we have only to run away unseen by them.” 

“Ah!” exclaimed the woodcutter’s wife. “Can you find 
the heart to lose your own children?” In vain her husband 
represented to her their great poverty; she would not consent 
to the deed. She was poor, but she was their mother. After 
a w T hile, however, having thought over the misery it would 
be to her to see them die of hunger, she assented to her 
husband’s proposal, and went weeping to bed. 

Little Thumbling had overheard all they said, for having 
found out, as he lay in his bed, that they were talking of 
their affairs, he got up quietly and crept under his father’s 
stool, so as to listen to what they were saying without being 
seen. He went to bed again, but did not sleep a wink the 
rest of the night, thinking what he should do. He got up 
early, and went down to the banks of the stream; there 
he filled his pockets with small wdiite pebbles, and then 
returned home. They set out all together, and Little 
Thumbling said not a word to his brothers of what he had 
overheard. They entered a very thick forest, wherein, at 
ten paces distant, they could not see one another. The 
woodcutter began to cut wood and the children to pick up 
brushwood for the faggots.] The father and mother, seeing 
them busy at work, gradually stole farther and farther away 
from them, and then suddenly ran off down a little winding 
path. 

When the children found themselves all alone, they 
began to scream and cry with all their might. Little Thumbling 
let them scream, well knowing how he could get home again, 

[ 52 ] 


LITTLE THUMBLING 


for on their way to the forest, he had dropped all along the 
road the little white pebbles he had in his pockets. He then 
said to them, “Have no fear, brothers; my father and mother 
have left us here, but I will take you safely home; only follow 
me”; and he led them back to the house by the same road 
that they had taken to the forest. They were afraid to go 
inside at once, but placed themselves close to the door to 
listen. 

It chanced that just at the moment when the woodcutter 
and his wife reached home, the lord of the manor sent them 
ten crowns, which he had owed them a long time, and which 
they had given up all hope of receiving. This was new life 
to them, for the poor things were actually starving. The 
woodcutter immediately sent his wife to the butcher’s, and, 
as it was many a day since they had tasted meat, she bought 
three times as much as was sufficient for two people’s supper. 
When they had appeased their hunger, the woodcutter’s 
wife said, “Alas! where now are our poor children? They 
would fare merrily on what we have left. But it was you, 
William, who would lose them. Truly did I say we should 
repent it. What are they now doing in the forest? Alas! 
Heaven help me! the wolves have, perhaps, already devoured 
them. Cruel man that you are!” 

The woodcutter began at last to lose his temper, for she 
repeated over twenty times that they would repent the deed, 
and that she had said it would be so. He threatened to beat 
her if she did not hold her tongue. The wife was all in tears. 
“Alas! where are now my children, my poor children?” 

She uttered her cry, at last, so loudly, that the children, 
[ 53 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


who were at the door, heard her, and began to call out all 
together, “Here we are! here we are!” 

She rushed to the door to open it, and embracing them 
exclaimed, “How thankful I am to see you again, my dear 
children; you are very tired and hungry; and you, little 
Peter, how dirty you are! come here and let me wash you.” 
Peter was her eldest son, and she loved him better than all 
the rest. They sat down to supper and ate with an appetite 
that delighted their father and mother, to whom they related 
how frightened they had been in the forest, and they all 
kept on speaking at the same time. 

The good people were overjoyed to see their children 
once more, and their joy lasted as long as the ten crowns. 
When the money was spent, however, they fell back into 
their former state of misery, and resolved to lose their children 
again ; and to make quite sure of doing so this time, they 
determined to lead them much farther from home. 

They could not talk of this so secretly but that they 
were overheard by Little Thumbling, who reckoned upon 
being able to get out of the difficulty by the same means as 
he did the first time; but though he got up very early to 
collect the little pebbles, he did not succeed in his object, 
for he found the house door double locked. He was at his 
wit’s end what to do, when his mother, having given each 
of them a piece of bread for their breakfast it occurred to 
him that he might make the bread take the place of the 
pebbles, by strewing crumbs along the path as they went, 
and so he put his piece in his pocket. The father and mother 
led them into the thickest and darkest part of the forest, 

[ 54 ] 



























LITTLE THUMBLING 


and as soon as they had done so, they turned into a bypath, 
and left them there. Little Thumbling did not trouble 
himself much, for he believed he could easily find his way 
back by help of the crumbs which he had scattered wherever 
he had passed; but he was greatly surprised to find not a 
single crumb left — the birds had come and picked them 
all up. The poor children were now, indeed, in great distress; 
the farther they wandered, the deeper they plunged into 
the forest. Night came on, and a great wind arose, which 
filled them with terror. They fancied they heard nothing 
on every side but the howling of wolves, running towards 
them to devour them. They scarcely dared to speak or 
look behind them. Then there came a heavy rain, which 
drenched them to the skin. They slipped at every step, 
tumbling into the mud. Little Thumbling climbed up a 
tree to try if he could see anything from the top of it. Having 
looked about on all sides, he saw a little light, like that of a 
candle, but it was a long way off, on the other side of the 
forest. He came down again, and when he had reached 
the ground he could no longer see the light. He was in despair 
at this, but having walked on with his brothers for some 
time in the direction of the light, he caught sight of it again 
as they emerged from the forest. 

At length they reached the house where the candle was 
shining, not without many alarms, for often they lost sight 
of it altogether, and always when they went down into the 
hollows. They knocked loudly at the door, and a good woman 
came to open it. She asked them what they wanted. Little 
Thumbling told her they were poor children who had lost 

[ 55 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


their way in the forest, and who begged a night’s lodgings 
for charity’s sake. 

The woman, seeing they were all so pretty, began to 
weep, and said to them, “Alas! my poor children, to what 
a place have you come! Know you not that this is the house 
of an ogre who eats little children?” 

“Alas!” replied Little Thumbling, who trembled from 
head to foot, as indeed did all his brothers, “what shall 
we do? We shall certainly all be eaten up by the wolves 
to-night if you do not give us shelter. Perhaps the ogre 
may have pity upon us, if you are kind enough to ask him.” 

The ogre’s wife, who thought that she might be able 
to hide them from her husband till the next morning, let 
the children come in, and led them where they could warm 
themselves by a good fire, for there was a whole sheep on 
the spit roasting for the ogre’s supper. 

Just as they were beginning to get warm they heard 
two or three loud knocks at the door. It was the ogre who 
had come home. His wife immediately made the children 
hide under the bed, and went to open the door. The ogre 
first asked if his supper was ready, and if she had drawn 
the wine, and with that he sat down to his meal. The mutton 
was all but raw, but he liked it all the better for that. He 
sniffed right and left, saying that he smelt fresh meat. 

“It must be the calf I have just skinned,” said his wife. 

“I tell you, I smell fresh meat,” replied the ogre, giving 
an angry glance at his wife; “there is something here I do 
not understand.” With these words, he rose from the table 
and went straight towards the bed. “Ah!” he exclaimed, 

[ 56 ] 


LITTLE THUMBLING 


“so this is the way in which you would deceive me, you wretched 
woman! I do not know what hinders me from eating you 
also! It is well for you that you are such an old creature! 
But here is some game, which comes in handy, and will 
serve to feast three of my ogre friends, who are soon coming 
to pay me a visit.” 

He dragged the children from under the bed, one after 
the other. They fell upon their knees, begging for mercy, 
but they had to deal with the most cruel of all the ogres, 
and who, far from feeling pity for them, devoured them 
already with his eyes, and said to his wife that they would 
be dainty bits, when she had made a good sauce for them. 
He went and took up a large knife, and as he came towards 
the children again, he whetted it on a long stone that he 
held in his left hand. 

He had already seized one of them, when his wife said 
to him, “Why are you doing that at this hour of night? 
Will it not be time enough to-morrow?” 

“Hold your peace,” replied the ogre. “They will be the 
more tender.” 

“But you have already too much food,” continued his 
wife. “Here are a calf, two sheep, and half a pig.” 

“You are right,” said the ogre, “give them a good supper, 
that they may keep plump, and then put them to bed.” 

The good woman was rejoiced, and brought them plenty 
of supper; but they could not eat, they were so overcome 
with fright. As for the ogre, he seated himself to drink 
again, delighted to think he had such a treat in store for 
his friends. He drained a dozen goblets more than usual, 

[ 57 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 

which made him feel sleepy and heavy, and obliged him 
to go to bed. 

The ogre had seven daughters, who were still young 
children. These little ogresses had the most beautiful com¬ 
plexions, as they lived on fresh meat like their father; but 
they had very small round grey eyes, hooked noses, and 
very large mouths, with long teeth, exceedingly sharp and 
wide apart. They were not very wicked as yet; but they 
promised to become so, for they already began to bite little 
children, that they might suck their blood. They had been 
sent to bed early, and were all seven in a large bed, each 
wearing a crown of gold on her head. In the same room 
was another bed of the same size. It was in this bed that 
the ogre’s wife put the seven little boys to sleep, after which 
she went to bed herself. 

Little Thumbling, who had noticed that the ogre’s daugh¬ 
ters had golden crowns on their heads, and who was afraid 
that the ogre might repent not having killed him and his 
brothers that evening, got up in the middle of the night, 
and, taking off his own nightcap, and those of his brothers, 
went very softly and placed them on the heads of the ogre’s 
daughters, first taking off their golden crowns, which he 
put on his brothers and himself, in order that the ogre might 
mistake them for his daughters, and his daughters for the 
boys whom he wanted to kill. 

Everything turned out as Little Thumbling had expected. 
The ogre awoke at midnight, and regretted having put off 
till the morning what he might have done the evening before. 
He, therefore, jumped suddenly out of bed, and seizing his 

[ 58 ] 


LITTLE THUMBLING 


great knife, “Let us go and see,” said he, “how tne young 
rogues are getting on! I will not think twice about it this 
time.” So he stole on tiptoes up to his daughters’ bedroom, 
and went up to the bed in which lay the little boys, who 
were all asleep except Thumbling, who was dreadfully fright¬ 
ened when the ogre put his hand on his head to feel it, as 
he had in turn felt those of his brothers. The ogre, feeling 
the golden crowns, said, “Truly, I was about to do a pretty 
piece of work! It’s plain I drank too much wine last night.” 
He then went to the bed where his daughters slept, and 
having felt the little nightcaps that belonged to the boys, 
“Aha!” cried he, “here are our fine young fellows. Let us 
to work boldly!” So saying, he, without pause, cut the 
throats of his seven daughters. 

Well satisfied with his deed, he returned and lay down 
beside his wife. As soon as Little Thumbling heard the 
ogre snoring, he awoke his brothers and bade them dress 
themselves quickly and follow him. They crept down into 
the garden and jumped over the wall. They ran nearly 
all night long, trembling the whole time, and not knowing 
whither they were going. The ogre, awaking in the morning, 
said to his wife, “Go upstairs and dress those young scamps 
you took in last night.” The ogress was astonished at her 
husband’s kindness, never guessing what he meant, and 
only fancying that he wished her to go and put on their 
clothes. She went upstairs, where she was horrified to find 
that her own children had been killed. The first thing she 
did was to faint. The ogre, fearing that his wife would be 
too long over the job he had given her to do, went upstairs 

[ 59 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


to help her. His surprise was not less than had been his 
wife’s, when his eyes fell on the frightful spectacle. 

“Ah! what have I done?” he exclaimed. “The young 
wretches shall pay for it, and that at once.” He threw a 
jugful of water in his wife’s face, and having brought her to, 
said, “Quick! fetch me my seven-league boots, that I may 
go after them and catch them.” 

He set out, and after running in every direction, came 
at last upon the track of the poor children, who were not 
more than a hundred yards from their father’s house. They 
saw the ogre striding from hill to hill, and stepping over 
rivers as easily as if they were the smallest brooks. Little 
Thumbling, who caught sight of a hollow rock close by 
where they were, hid his brothers in it, and crept in after 
them, keeping his eye on the ogre all the while. The ogre, 
feeling very tired with his long journey to no purpose, thought 
he should like to rest, and, by chance, sat down on the very 
rock in which the little boys had concealed themselves. As 
he was quite worn out, he had not rested long before he fell 
asleep, and began to snore so dreadfully that the poor children 
were not less frightened than they were when he took up 
the great knife to cut their throats. 

Little Thumbling was not so much alarmed, and told 
his brothers to run quickly into the house while the ogre 
was sound asleep, and not to be uneasy about him. They 
took his advice and soon reached home. 

Little Thumbling then going up to the ogre, gently pulled 
off his boots and put them on himself. The boots were very 
large and very long; but as they were enchanted boots, they 
[ 60 ] 


LITTLE THUMBLING 


had the power of becoming larger or smaller according to 
the leg of the person who wore them, so that they fitted 
him as if they had been made for him. He went straight to 
the ogre’s house, where he found the wife weeping over her 
murdered daughters. 

“Your husband,” said Little Thumbling to her, “is in 
great danger, for he has been seized by a band of robbers, 
who have sworn to kill him if he does not give them all his 
gold and silver. Just as they had their daggers at his throat, 
he saw me, and begged me to come and tell you what had 
happened to him, and sent word that you were to give me 
all his ready money, without keeping back any of it, as 
otherwise they will kill him without mercy. As time pressed, 
he insisted on my taking his seven-league boots, which you 
see I have on, in order that I might make haste, and also 
that you might be sure I was not imposing upon you!” 

The good woman, very much alarmed, immediately gave 
him all the money she could find. Little Thumbling, thus 
laden with all the ogre’s wealth, hastened back to his father’s 
house, where he was received with great joy. 


[ 61 ] 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 


By Madame le Prince de Beaumont 

T HERE was once a merchant, who was very rich. 
He had six children, three boys and three girls, and 
as he was a man of good sense, he spared no expense 
in order that they might be well educated, and gave them 
masters of every kind. His daughters were all beautiful, 
but his youngest one was especially admired, and from the 
time she was a small child had been only known and spoken 
of as “ Beauty.” The name remained with her as she grew 
older, which gave rise to a great deal of jealousy on the 
part of her sisters. The young girl was not only more beau¬ 
tiful than they were, but also kinder and more amiable. 
The elder daughters gave themselves great airs, for they 
were overweeningly proud of being so rich, and would not 
condescend to receive visits from the daughters of other 
merchants, as they only cared for the society of people in 
high position. Not a day passed that they did not go to a 
ball, or a theatre, or for a drive or walk in a fashionable 
part of the town, and they made fun of their sister, who 
spent a great part of her time in study. The girls received 
many offers of marriage from well-to-do merchants, but 
the two elder ones replied that they did not intend to marry 
any one, unless a duke or an earl could be found for a husband. 
Beauty, the youngest, was more polite, and thanked 
[ 62 ] 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 


those who asked for her hand, but she was, as she told them, 
too young as yet, and wished to remain for a few more years 
as a companion to her father. 

Then, all at once, the merchant lost the whole of his 
fortune; nothing was left to him but a little house situated 
far away in the country. He told his children that they 
would be obliged to go and live there, and that even then 
they would have to support themselves by the work of their 
own hands. His two elder daughters refused to leave the 
town; they had many admirers, they said, who would be 
only too glad to marry them, although they were now without 
fortune. But these young ladies found themselves greatly 
mistaken, for their admirers did not even care to look at 
them, now that they were poor. They had made themselves 
generally disliked on account of their haughty behavior. 

“They do not deserve to be pitied,” said every one; 
“we are very glad that their pride is humbled; let them go 
and play the fine lady keeping sheep.” 

But people spoke differently of Beauty. “We are very 
sorry,” they said, “that she is in trouble; she is such a good 
girl! she always spoke so kindly to the poor! she was so 
gentle and courteous!” Several of her suitors still wished 
to marry her, although she had not a penny, but she told 
them that she could not think of leaving her father in his 
distress, and that she intended going with him into the 
country, to comfort him and help with the work. 

Beauty was very unhappy at losing her fortune, but 
she said to herself, “It is no use to cry, tears will not give 
me back my riches; I must try and be happy without them.” 

[ 63 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


As soon as they were settled in their country house, 
the merchant and his sons began to till the ground. Beauty 
rose every morning at four o’clock and made haste to clean 
the house and prepare the meal. She found her duties very 
painful and fatiguing at first, for she had not been accus¬ 
tomed to do the work of a servant; but in two months’ time 
she had grown stronger, and the activity of her life gave 
her fresh health and color. When her day’s work was over, 
she amused herself with reading or music; sometimes she 
sat down to her wheel and sang to her spinning. 

Meanwhile her two sisters were wearied to death with 
the dullness of their life; they stayed in bed till ten o’clock, 
did nothing all day but saunter about, and for their only 
diversion talked with regret of their former fine clothes and 
friends. “Look at our young sister,” they said to one another; 
“she is so low-minded and stupid, that she is quite content 
with her miserable condition.” 

The good merchant thought differently; he knew that 
Beauty was better fitted to shine in society than they were. 
He admired the good qualities of his youngest child, espe¬ 
cially her patience, for her sisters, not content with allowing 
her to do all the work of the house, took every opportunity 
of insulting her. 

The family had lived in this solitude for a year, when a 
letter arrived for the merchant, telling him that a vessel, 
on which there was merchandise belonging to him, had arrived 
safely in port. The two elder girls were nearly out of their 
minds with joy when they heard this good news, for now 
they hoped that they should be able to leave the country. 

[ 64 ] 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 


They begged their father, ere he departed, to bring them 
back dresses and capes, head-dresses, and all sorts of odds 
and ends of fancy attire. Beauty asked for nothing; for, 
as she thought to herself, all the money that the merchandise 
would bring in would not be sufficient to pay for everything 
that her sisters wished for. 

“Is there nothing you wish me to buy for you?” said 
her father. 

“As you are so kind as to think of me,” she replied, “I 
pray you to bring me a rose, for we have not one here.” Now 
Beauty did not really care about the rose, but she had no 
wish to seem, by her example, to reprove her sisters, who 
would have said that she did not ask for anything in order 
to make herself appear more considerate than they were. 

The father left them, but on arriving at his destination, 
he had to go to law about his merchandise, and after a great 
deal of trouble he turned back home as poor as he came. 
He had not many more miles to go, and was already enjoying, 
in anticipation, the pleasure of seeing his children again, 
when passing on his journey through a large wood he lost 
his way. It was snowing hard, the wind was violent, and 
as the night was closing in he was afraid that he would die 
of cold and hunger, or that he would be eaten by the wolves. 
All at once, however, he caught sight of a bright light, which 
appeared to be some way off, at the farther end of a long 
avenue of trees. He walked towards it, and soon saw that 
it came from a splendid castle, which was brilliantly illu¬ 
minated. The merchant thanked God for the help that had 
been sent him, and hastened towards the castle, but was 

[ 65 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 

greatly surprised, on reaching it, to find no one in the court¬ 
yard or about the entrances. His horse, which was following 
him, seeing the door of a large stable standing open, went 
in, and finding there some hay and oats, began eating with 
avidity. 

The merchant fastened him up in the stable, and went 
towards the house, but still no one was to be seen. He walked 
into a large dining-hall, and there he found a good fire, and 
a table, laid for one person, covered with provisions. Being 
wet to the skin with the rain and snow, he drew near the 
fire to dry himself, saying as he did so, “The master of this 
house, or his servants, will pardon me the liberty I am taking; 
no doubt they will soon appear.” He waited for a considerable 
time; but when eleven o’clock had struck, and still he had 
seen no one, he could no longer resist the feeling of hunger, 
and seizing a chicken, he ate it up trembling the while. Then 
he took a draught or two of wine and, his courage returning, 
left the dining-hall and made his way through several large 
rooms magnificently furnished. Finally he came to a room 
where there was a comfortable bed, and as it was now past 
midnight, and he was very tired, he made up his mind to 
shut the door and lie down. 

It was ten o’clock next morning before he awoke, when, 
to his great surprise, he found new clothes put in place of 
his own, which had been completely spoiled. “This palace 
must certainly belong to some good fairy,” he said to himself, 
“who, seeing my condition, has taken pity upon me.” He 
looked out of the window; the snow was gone, and he saw in¬ 
stead bowers of delicious flowers which were a delight to the eye. 

[ 66 ] 
























BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 


He went again into the dining-hall where he had supped 
the night before, and saw a little table with chocolate upon 
it. “I thank you, good madam fairy/’ he said aloud, “for 
your kindness in thinking of my breakfast.” 

The merchant having drunk his chocolate went out to 
find his horse. As he passed under a bower of roses, he remem¬ 
bered that Beauty had asked him to bring her one, and he 
plucked a branch on which several were growing. He had 
scarcely done so, when he heard a loud roar, and saw coming 
towards him a Beast, of such a horrible aspect that he nearly 
fainted. 

“You are very ungrateful,” said the Beast in a terrible 
voice; “I received you into my castle, and saved your life, 
and now you steal my roses, which I care for more than 
anything else in the world. Death alone can make amends 
for what you have done; I give you a quarter of an hour, 
no more, in which to ask forgiveness of God.” 

The merchant threw himself on his knees and, with 
clasped hands, said to the Beast, “I pray you, my lord, to 
forgive me. I did not think to offend you by picking a 
rose for one of my daughters, who asked me to take it 
her.” 

“I am not called my lord,” responded the monster, “but 
simply the Beast. I do not care for compliments; I like 
people to say what they think; so do not think to mollify 
me with your flattery. But you tell me you have some daugh¬ 
ters; I will pardon you on condition that one of your daughters 
will come of her own free will to die in your place. Do not 
stop to argue with me; go! and if your daughter refuses to 
[ 67 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


die for you, swear that you will return yourself in three 
months’ time.” 

The merchant had no intention of sacrificing one of his 
daughters to this hideous monster, but he thought, “At 
least I shall have the pleasure of embracing them once more.” 
He swore therefore to return, and the Beast told him that 
he might go when he liked; “but,” added he, “I do not wish 
you to go from me with empty hands. Go back to the room 
in which you slept, there you will find a large empty trunk; 
you may fill it with whatever you please, and I will have 
it conveyed to your house.” 

With these words the Beast withdrew, and the merchant 
said to himself, “If I must die, I shall at least have the con¬ 
solation of leaving my children enough for their daily 
bread.” 

He returned to the room where he had passed the night, 
and finding there a great quantity of gold pieces, he filled 
the trunk, of which the Beast had spoken, with these, closed 
it, and remounting his horse, which he found still in the 
stable, he rode out from the castle, his sadness now as great 
as had been his joy on entering it. His horse carried him 
of its own accord along one of the roads through the forest, 
and in a few hours the merchant was again in his own little 
house. 

His children gathered round him; but instead of finding 
pleasure in their caresses, he began to weep as he looked 
upon them. He held in his hand the branch of roses which 
he had brought for Beauty. “Take them,” he said, as he 
gave them to her, “your unhappy father has paid dearly 
[ 68 ] 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 


for them.” And then he told his family of the melancholy 
adventure that had befallen him. 

The two elder girls, when they had heard his tale, cried 
and screamed, and began saying all sorts of cruel things to 
Beauty, who did not shed a tear. “See what the pride of 
this wretched little creature has brought us to!” said they. 
“Why couldn’t she ask for wearing apparel as we did? but 
no, she must needs show herself off as a superior person. 
It is she who will be the cause of our father’s death, and she 
does not even cry!” 

“That would be of little use,” replied Beauty. “Why 
should I cry about my father’s death? He is not going to 
die. Since the monster is willing to accept one of his daugh¬ 
ters, I will give myself up to him, that he may vent his full 
anger upon me; and I am happy in so doing, for by my death 
I shall have the joy of saving my father, and of proving my 
love for him.” 

“No, my sister,” said the three brothers, “you shall not 
die; we will go and find out this monster, and we will either 
kill him or die beneath his blows.” 

“Do not hope to kill him,” said their father to them; 
“for the Beast is so powerful, that I fear there are no means 
by which he could be destroyed. My Beauty’s loving heart 
fills mine with gladness, but she shall not be exposed to 
such a terrible death. I am old, I have but a little while 
to live; I shall lose but a few years of life, which I regret on 
your account, and on yours alone, my children.” 

“I am determined, my father,” said Beauty, “that you 
shall not return to that castle without me; you cannot prevent 

[ 69 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


my following you. Although I am young, life has no great 
attraction for me, and I would far rather be devoured by 
the monster than die of the grief which your death would 
cause me.” 

The merchant was so taken up with grief at losing his 
daughter, that he quite forgot about the trunk which he 
had filled with gold pieces, but, to his astonishment, he 
had no sooner shut himself into his room for the night, than 
he found it beside his bed. He resolved not to tell his children 
of his newly-obtained riches, for he knew that his daughters 
would then wish to return to the town, and he had made up 
his mind to die where he was in the country. He confided 
his secret, however, to Beauty, who told him that there had 
been visitors at the house during his absence, among them 
two who were in love with her sisters. She begged her father 
to marry them; for she was so good of heart, that she loved 
them and freely forgave them all the unkindness they had 
shown her. 

The two hard-hearted girls rubbed their eyes with an 
onion that they might shed tears on the departure of their 
father and Beauty; but the brothers wept sincerely, as did 
also the merchant; Beauty alone would not cry, fearing that 
it might increase their sorrow. The horse took the road that 
led to the castle, which, as evening fell, came in view, illu¬ 
minated as before. Again the horse was the only one in the 
stable, and once more the merchant entered the large dining- 
hall, this time with his daughter, and there they found the 
table magnificently laid for two. 

The merchant had not the heart to eat; but Beauty, 
[ 70 ] 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 


doing her utmost to appear cheerful, sat down to the table 
and served him to something. Then she said to herself, 
“The Beast wants to fatten me before he eats me, since he 
provides such good cheer.” 

They had finished their supper, when they heard a great 
noise, and the merchant, weeping, said farewell to his poor 
daughter, for he knew it was the Beast. Beauty could not 
help shuddering when she saw the dreadful shape approach¬ 
ing; but she did her best not to give way to her fear, and 
when the Beast asked her if it was of her own free will that 
she had come, she told him, trembling, that it was so. 

“You are very good, and I am much obliged to you,” 
said the Beast. “Good man, to-morrow morning you will 
leave, and do not venture ever to come here again.” 

“Good-bye, Beast,” replied Beauty, and the Beast imme¬ 
diately retired. 

“Alas! my daughter,” said the merchant, clasping Beauty 
in his arms, “I am half dead with fright. Listen to me; 
leave me here.” 

“No, my father,” said Beauty, without faltering. “You 
will depart to-morrow morning, and you will leave me under 
Heaven’s protection, maybe I shall find pity and help.” 

They retired to rest, thinking that they would have no 
sleep that night; but no sooner were they in bed than their 
eyes closed. In her dreams there appeared to Beauty a lady, 
who said to her, “I have pleasure in the goodness of your 
heart, Beauty; your good action in giving your life to save 
that of your father will not be without its reward.” Beauty 
told her father next morning of her dream, and although 

[ 71 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


it afforded him some consolation, it did not prevent his loud 
cries of grief when at last he was forced to bid good-bye to 
his dear daughter. 

After his departure, Beauty went back and sat down in 
the dining-hall, and began weeping herself. But she was of 
a courageous disposition, and so she commended herself 
to God, and resolved not to be miserable during the short 
time still left her to live, for she quite thought that the Beast 
would eat her that evening. In the meanwhile she resolved 
to walk about and look over the fine castle she was in. She 
found it impossible not to admire its beauty, but her surprise 
was great when she came to a door over which was written: 
Beauty’s Room. She hastily opened the door, and was 
dazzled by the magnificence of the whole apartment. What 
most attracted her admiration was a large bookcase, a piano, 
and several books of music. 

“He does not wish me to feel dull,” she said in a low 
voice. Then the thought came to her, “If I was only going 
to live here a day, there would not have been so much pro¬ 
vided for my amusement.” This thought revived her courage. 

She opened the bookcase and there saw a book on which 
was written in letters of gold: 

“Wish what you like. Command what you will. You 
alone are Queen and Mistress here.” 

“Alas!” she murmured, sighing, “I wish for nothing 
but to see my dear father again, and to know what he is 
doing at this moment.” She had only said this to herself 
in a low voice. Wdiat was her surprise, therefore, when 
turning towards a large mirror, she saw her home, and her 
[ 72 ] 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 


father just returned, wearing a sad countenance. Her sisters 
went forward to meet him, and in spite of the expression 
of sorrow which they tried to assume, it was evident in their 
faces that they were delighted to have lost their sister. In 
another minute, the picture had disappeared, and Beauty 
could not help thinking that the Beast was very kind-hearted, 
and that she had not much to fear from him. 

She found the table laid for her at noon, and during her 
dinner she was entertained with a delightful concert, although 
no creature was visible. 

In the evening, as she was just sitting down to her meal, 
she heard the sound of the Beast’s voice, and could not help 
shuddering. “Beauty,” said the monster to her, “will you 
allow me to look on while you are eating your supper?” 

“You are master here,” replied Beauty, trembling. 

“Not so,” rejoined the Beast, “you alone are mistress; 
if I annoy you, you have only to tell me to go, and I will 
leave you at once. But confess now, you think me very 
ugly, do you not?” 

“That is true,” said Beauty, “for I cannot tell a lie; but 
I think you are very kind.” 

“You are right,” said the monster; “but besides being 
ugly I am also stupid; I know well enough that I am only 
a Beast.” 

“No one is stupid, who believes himself to be wanting in 
intelligence; it is the fool who is not aware of being without it.” 

“Eat, Beauty,” said the monster to her, “and try to 
find pleasure in your own house; for everything here belongs 
to you. I should be very sorry if you were unhappy.” 

[ 73 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 

“You are everything that is kind,” said Beauty. “I 
assure you that your goodness of heart makes me happy; 
when I think of that, you no longer appear so ugly to me.” 

“Ah, yes!” replied the Beast, “I have a kind heart, but 
for all that I am a monster.” 

“Many men are more monsters than you,” said Beauty; 
“and I care more for you with your countenance than for 
those who with their human face hide a false, corrupt, and 
ungrateful heart.” 

“If I had sufficient wit,” responded the Beast, “I would 
make you a pretty answer in return for your words; but 
I am too stupid for that, and all I can say is, that I am very 
grateful to you.” 

Beauty ate her supper with a good appetite. She had 
lost almost all her fear of the monster, but she almost died 
of fright when he said, “Beauty, will you be my wife?” 

She sat for a while without answering. She was alarmed 
at the thought of arousing the monster’s anger by refusing 
him. Nevertheless she finally said, trembling, “No, Beast.” 
At this the poor monster sighed, and the hideous sound he 
made echoed throughout the castle; but Beauty was soon 
reassured, for the Beast, after sadly bidding her adieu, left 
the room, turning his head from time to time to look at her 
again. 

A strong feeling of compassion for the Beast came over 
Beauty when she was left alone. “Alas!” she said, “it is 
a pity he is so ugly, for he is so good!” 

Beauty spent three months in the castle, more or less 
happily. The Beast paid her a visit every evening, and 

[ 74 ] 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 


conversed with her as she ate her supper, showing good 
sense in his talk, but not what the world deems cleverness. 
Every day Beauty discovered some fresh good quality in 
the monster. She grew accustomed to his ugliness, and far 
from fearing his visit, she would often look at her watch to 
see if it was nearly nine o’clock, for the Beast always arrived 
punctually at that hour. There was only one thing which 
caused distress to Beauty, and that was that every evening 
before retiring the monster asked her if she would be his 
wife, and always appeared overcome with sorrow at her 
refusal. 

One day she said to him, “You grieve me. Beast. I wish 
it were possible for me to marry you; but I am too truthful 
to make you believe that such a thing could ever happen. 
I shall always be your friend. Try to be satisfied with that.” 

“I suppose I must,” responded the Beast; “I know I 
am horrible to look upon, but I love you very much. How¬ 
ever, I am but too happy that you consent to remain here. 
Promise me that you will never leave me.” 

The color came into Beauty’s face. Her mirror had shown 
her that her father was ill with the grief of losing her, and 
she was hoping to see him again. “I would promise without 
hesitation never to leave you,” said Beauty to him, “but I 
do so long to see my father again, that I shall die of sorrow 
if you refuse me this pleasure.” 

“I would rather die myself,” said the monster, “than 
give you pain. I will send you home to your father, you 
will stay there, and your poor Beast will die of grief at your 
absence.” 


[ 75 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


“No, no,” said Beauty crying; “I care for you too much 
to wish to cause your death. I promise to return in a week’s 
time. You have let me see that my sisters are married, and 
that my brothers have entered the army. My father is all 
alone, let me remain with him a week.” 

“You shall be with him to-morrow morning, but remember 
your promise. When you wish to return, you have only 
to put your ring on the table before going to bed. Farewell, 
Beauty.” The Beast gave his usual sigh as he said these 
words, and Beauty went to bed feeling troubled at the thought 
of the sorrow she had caused him. When she awoke the 
following morning, she found herself at home; and ringing 
a little bell that stood beside her bed, the maid-servant came 
in, who gave a loud cry of astonishment at seeing her there. 
Her father ran in on hearing the cry and almost died of joy 
when he found his dear daughter, and they remained clasped 
in each other’s arms for more than a quarter of an hour. 

Beauty, after the first transports of joy were over, remem¬ 
bered that she had no clothes with her; but the servant told 
her that she had just found a trunk in the next room, in 
which were dresses of gold fabric, trimmed with diamonds. 
Beauty thanked the kind Beast for his thoughtfulness. She 
took out the least costly of the dresses, and told the maid 
to lock the others away again, as she wished to give them 
to her sisters; but she had no sooner uttered these words, 
than the trunk disappeared. Her father said to her that 
the Beast evidently wished for her to keep them all for herself, 
and the trunk and the dresses immediately reappeared. 

Beauty dressed herself, and meanwhile news of her arrival 
[ 76 ] 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 


was sent to her sisters, who came in haste with their husbands. 
They were both extremely unhappy. The eldest had married 
a young man who was as handsome as nature could make 
him; but he was so in love with his own face that he could 
think of nothing else from morning to night, and cared nothing 
for the beauty of his wife. The second had married a very 
witty and clever man; but he only made use of his ability 
to put everybody in a bad temper, beginning with his wife. 

Her sisters nearly died of envy when they saw Beauty 
dressed like a princess, and beautiful as the day. In vain 
she showered caresses upon them; nothing could stifle their 
jealousy, which only increased when she told them how 
happy she was. 

These two jealous creatures went into the garden, that 
they might cry more at their ease. They said to one another, 
“Why should this wretched little thing be happier than we 
are? Are we not more attractive than she is?” 

“Sister,” said the eldest one, “an idea has occurred to 
me; let us try to keep her here over the week. Her stupid 
old Beast will be enraged at her breaking her word, and 
perhaps he will devour her.” 

“You are right, sister,” replied the other; “to carry out 
our plan, we must appear very loving and kind to her.” 
And having settled this, they went back to the house and 
were so affectionate to her that Beauty cried for joy. 

When the week drew to a close, the two sisters showed 
such signs of grief at her departure, and made such lamen¬ 
tation, that she promised to stay till the end of the second 
one. Beauty, however, reproached herself for the sorrow 

[ 77 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


she would cause her poor Beast, whom she loved with all 
her heart; and she began to miss him very much. On the 
tenth night of her absence, she dreamed that she was in the 
garden of the castle, and that she saw the Beast lying on 
the grass, apparently dying, and that he reproached her 
with her ingratitude. Beauty awoke with a start and wept. 
“I am indeed wicked,” she said, “to behave so ungratefully 
to a Beast who has been so considerate and kind to me! 
Is it his fault that he is ugly and that he is not clever? He 
is good, and that is worth everything else. Why did 1 refuse 
to marry him? I should be happier with him than my sisters 
are with their husbands. It is neither beauty nor wit in a 
husband which makes a wife happy; it is amiability of char¬ 
acter, uprightness, and generosity; and the Beast has all 
these good qualities. I do not love him, but I respect him, 
and I feel both affection for him and gratitude. I will not 
make him unhappy; should I do so, I should reproach myself 
for it as long as I live.” 

With these words Beauty rose, placed her ring on a table, 
and lay down again. The moment she was in bed she fell 
asleep, and when she awoke next morning she saw with 
delight that she was back in the Beast’s castle. She dressed 
herself magnificently, in order to please him, and the hours 
seemed to drag as she waited for nine o’clock to strike; but 
the hour came, and the Beast did not appear. 

Then Beauty began to fear that she had caused his death. 
She ran through the castle, uttering loud cries, for she was 
in despair. After having looked everywhere, she remembered 
her dream, and ran into the garden towards the water, where 

[ 78 ] 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 


she had seen him in her sleep. She found the poor Beast 
stretched on the ground, and unconscious, and she thought 
he was dead. Forgetting her horror at his appearance, she 
threw herself upon him, and feeling that his heart was still 
beating, she fetched some water and threw it over his head. 
The Beast opened his eyes, and said to Beauty, “You forgot 
your promise. In my grief at losing you I determined to 
let myself die of hunger; but I die happy, since I have had 
the joy of seeing you once again.” 

“No, my dear Beast, you shall not die,” exclaimed Beauty. 
“You shall live to be my husband; I am yours from this 
moment, and only yours. Alas! I thought the feeling I had 
for you was only one of friendship; but now I know, by the 
grief I feel, that I cannot live without you.” 

Beauty had scarcely uttered these words before she saw 
the castle suddenly become brilliantly illuminated, whilst 
everything indicated the celebration of some joyful event. 
She did not gaze long, however, at these splendors, but 
quickly turned her eyes again towards her dear Beast, the 
thought of whose danger made her tremble with anxiety. 
But what was her surprise when she saw that the Beast had 
disappeared, and that a young and handsome Prince was 
lying at her feet, who thanked her for having released him 
from enchantment. 

Although this Prince was fully worthy of her attention. 
Beauty, nevertheless, could not help asking what had become 
of the Beast. 

“You see him at your feet,” said the Prince to her. “A 
wicked fairy condemned me to remain in the form of a monster, 

[ 79 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


until some fair damsel would consent to marry me, and slie 
forbade me also to betray that I had intelligence. You are 
the only one who has been kind enough to allow the goodness 
of my heart to touch yours, and I cannot, even by offering 
you my crown, acquit myself of obligation to you.” 

Beauty, agreeably surprised, gave the young Prince her 
hand, to help him to rise. They passed, side by side, into 
the castle, and Beauty nearly died of joy when she found 
her father and all her family assembled in the dining-hall; 
the beautiful lady whom she had seen in her dream having 
transported them thither. 

“ Beauty,” said the lady, who was a well-known fairy, 
“receive the recompense of your noble choice. You preferred 
virtue to beauty or intelligence, and you therefore deserve 
to find all these qualities united in one person. You are soon 
to become a great queen; I trust your exalted position will 
not destroy your good disposition. As for you,” said the 
fairy, turning to Beauty’s sisters, “I know your hearts and 
all the malice concealed in them. Be turned, therefore, into 
statues, but preserve your consciousness beneath the stone 
which will envelop you. You will remain at the entrance 
of your sister’s palace, and I impose no further punishment 
upon you, than to be the constant witnesses of her happiness. 
You will not be able to resume your present forms until you 
have recognized and confessed your faults; but I greatly fear 
that you will always remain statues. Pride, anger, greediness, 
and laziness may be corrected; but nothing short of a miracle 
can convert the envious and malicious heart.” The fairy 
then gave a tap with her wand, and all those assembled in 

[ 80 ] 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 


the dining-hall were immediately transported into the 
Prince’s kingdom. His subjects greeted him with joy; he 
married Beauty, who lived a long life with him of perfect 
happiness, for it was founded upon virtue. 


[ 81 ] 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 



NCE upon a time there was a King and a Queen 


who had an only daughter. Her beauty, her sweet 


temper, and her wit were incomparable, so she was 


named Gracieuse. She w T as the sole joy of her mother, who 
sent her every day a beautiful new dress, either of gold bro¬ 
cade, or of velvet, or of satin. She was always magnificently 
dressed, without being in the least proud, or vain of her 
fine clothes. She passed the morning in the company of 
learned persons, who taught her all sorts of sciences, and 
in the afternoon she worked beside the Queen. At luncheon 
time they served up to her basins full of sugar-plums, and 
more than twenty pots of preserves; so that she was con¬ 
sidered the happiest princess in the world! 

There was in this same Court an exceedingly rich old 
maid, called the Duchess Grognon, and who was horrible 
in every respect. Her hair was as red as fire, her face of an 
alarming size; she had but one blear eye left, and her mouth 
w^as so large you would have said she could eat everybody 
up, only, as she had no teeth, people were not afraid of it; 
she had a hump before and behind, and limped with both 
legs. Such monsters envy all handsome persons, and con¬ 
sequently she hated Gracieuse mortally, and retired from 
Court to avoid hearing her praises. She took up her abode 
in a neighboring chateau that belonged to her, and when 
any one who paid her a visit spoke of the perfections of the 


[ 82 ] 


* 



* 


























GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


princess, she would scream out in a rage, “It is false! it is 
false! She is not charming! I have more beauty in my little 
finger than she has in her whole body!” 

Now it happened that the Queen fell ill and died. The 
Princess Gracieuse felt as if she should die also of grief for 
the loss of so good a mother, and the King deeply regretted 
his excellent wife. For nearly a twelvemonth he remained 
shut up in his palace, till at length the physicians, alarmed 
about his health, insisted on his going out and amusing 
himself. 

One day he went hunting, and the heat being very great, 
he entered a large chateau that he saw near him, for shelter 
and refreshment. As soon as the Duchess Grognon (for it 
was her chateau) heard of the King’s arrival, she hastened 
to receive him, and informed him that the coolest place in 
the mansion was a large vaulted cellar, exceedingly clean, 
into which she requested he would descend. The King fol¬ 
lowed her, and entering the cellar he saw two hundred barrels 
placed in rows one above the other. He asked her whether 
it was only for herself she kept such a stock. “Yes, Sire,” 
she replied, “for myself alone; but I shall be delighted if 
your majesty will do me the honor to taste my wines.” 

Grognon immediately took a small hammer, struck a 
cask two or three times, “tap,” “tap,” and out came a million 
of pistoles. “What does this mean?” she exclaimed with a 
smile, and passing to the next cask she hit that, “tap,” “tap,” 
and out rolled a bushel of gold pieces. 

“I don’t understand this at all,” she said, smiling still 
more significantly. On she went to another barrel and rapped 

[ 83 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


“tap,” tap,” and out ran so many pearls and diamonds that 
the floor of the cellar was covered with them. “Ah!” she 
cried, “I can’t comprehend this. Sire. Somebody must have 
stolen my good wine and put in its place these trifles.” 

“Trifles!” echoed the King, perfectly astonished; “do 
you call these trifles. Madam? There is treasure enough here 
to buy ten kingdoms.” 

“Well,” said the Duchess, “know that these barrels are 
all filled with gold and jewels, and I will make you master 
of all, provided you will marry me.” 

“Oh,” said the King, who loved money beyond anything, 
“I desire nothing better! — I’ll marry you to-morrow if you 
please.” 

“But,” continued she, “I must make one more condition. 
I must have the same power over your daughter as her mother 
had. She must obey my will and pleasure, and you shall 
leave her entirely to my management.” 

“Agreed,” said the King, “there is my hand upon it.” 
Grognon placed her hand in his, and leaving the treasure- 
vault together, she presented him with the key of it. 

The King immediately returned to his palace. Gracieuse, 
hearing her royal father’s voice, ran to meet him, embraced 
him, and inquired if he had had good sport. “I have taken,” 
said he, “a dove, alive.” 

“Ah, Sir,” said the princess, “give it to me, I will feed 
and make a pet of it.” 

“That may not be,” replied the King, “for to speak 
plainly, I must tell you that I have seen the Duchess Grognon, 
and that I am going to marry her.” 

[ 84 ] 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


“Oh, heavens!” exclaimed Gracieuse, “can you call her 
a dove? She is more like a screech-owl!” 

“Hold your tongue,” said the King, becoming angry; 
“I command you to love and respect her as much as if she 
were your mother. Go and dress yourself immediately, for 
I intend to return this very day to meet her.” 

The Princess, who was very obedient, went immediately 
to her dressing-room. Her nurse saw tears in her eyes — 
“What is the matter, my little darling?” she asked, “you 
are crying?” 

“Alas! my dear nurse,” answered Gracieuse, “who would 
not weep? The King is going to give me a stepmother, and 
to complete my misfortune, she is my most cruel enemy — 
in one word, the hideous Grognon! How shall I ever bear 
to see her in the beautiful beds which the Queen, my dear 
mother, so delicately embroidered with her own hands! 
How can I ever caress an old ape who would have put me 
to death!” 

“My dear child,” replied the nurse, “you must have a 
spirit as high and noble as your birth. Princesses like you 
should set the greatest examples to the world; and what 
finer example can there be, than that of obedience to a father 
and sacrificing one’s self to please him? Promise me, there¬ 
fore, that you will not manifest your antipathy to Grognon.” 

The poor Princess had much difficulty in promising, but 
the prudent nurse gave her so many excellent reasons, that 
at length she pledged her word to put a good face on the 
matter, and behave courteously to her stepmother. She then 
proceeded to dress herself in a gown of green and gold brocade, 

[ 85 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


her long fair hair falling in wavy folds upon her shoulders, 
and fanned by the passing breezes, as was the fashion in 
those days, and crowned with a light wreath of roses and 
jasmine, the leaves of which were made of emeralds. 

But to return to Grognon. The ugly creature was exces¬ 
sively occupied with her toilette. She had one shoe made 
half a cubit higher in the heel than the other, in order to 
appear less lame, a bodice stuffed upon one shoulder to 
conceal the hump on its fellow, a glass eye, the best she 
could procure, to replace the one she had lost. She painted 
her brown skin white, dyed her red hair black, and then 
put on an open robe of satin faced with blue, and a yellow 
petticoat, trimmed with violet ribbon. She determined to 
make her entree on horseback, because she had heard it was 
a custom of the queens of Spain. 

Whilst the King was giving his orders, and Gracieuse 
awaiting the moment of departure to meet Grognon, she 
descended alone into the palace gardens and strolled into a 
little gloomy grove, where she sat down upon the grass. 
“At length/’ she said, “I am at liberty, and may cry as 
much as I please without any one to check me!” and accord¬ 
ingly she sighed and wept so much that her eyes appeared 
like two fountains in full play. In this sad state she no longer 
thought of returning to the palace, when she saw a page 
approaching dressed in green satin, with a plume of white 
feathers in his cap and the handsomest countenance in the 
world. Bending one knee to the ground, he said, “Princess, 
the King awaits you.” She was struck with surprise at the 
beauty and grace of the young page, and, as he was a stranger 

[ 86 ] 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 

to her, she supposed he was in the service of Grognon. 

“How long is it,” said she, “since the King admitted 
you into the number of his pages?” 

“I am not the King’s page, madam,” he replied; “I am 
yours, and will be yours only.” 

“Mine!” exclaimed Gracieuse, much astonished, “and 
I not know you!” 

“Ah, Princess!” said he, “hitherto I have not dared to 
make myself known to you, but the misfortunes with which 
you are threatened by this marriage of the King oblige me 
to speak to you sooner than I should have done. I had 
resolved to leave time and attention to declare to you my 
passion.” 

“How! a page!” said the Princess; “a page has the assur¬ 
ance to tell me he loves me! This, indeed, completes my 
degradation!” 

“Be not alarmed, beautiful Gracieuse,” said he, with the 
most tender and respectful air; “I am Percinet, a prince 
sufficiently well known for his wealth and his science, to 
relieve you from all idea of inequality in birth and station. 
In merit and person I eagerly admit your superiority. I have 
loved you long; I have been often near you in these gardens 
without your perceiving me. The fairy power bestowed 
upon me at my birth has been of great service in procuring 
me the pleasure of beholding you. I will accompany you 
everywhere today in this habit, and, I trust, not altogether 
without being of service to you.” 

The Princess gazed at him while he spoke in a state of 
astonishment from which she could not recover. “It is you, 

[ 87 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


then, handsome Percinet!” said she to him. “It is you whom 
I have so much wished to see, and of whom such surprising 
things are related! How delighted I am that you desire to 
be my friend! I no longer fear the wicked Grognon, since 
you take an interest in my fortunes.” A few more words 
passed between them, and then Gracieuse repaired to the 
palace, where she found a horse ready saddled and capari¬ 
soned, which Percinet had placed in the stables, and which 
it was supposed must be intended for her. She mounted it, 
and, as it was a very spirited animal, the page took the bridle 
and led it, turning every minute towards the Princess that 
he might have the pleasure of beholding her. 

When the horse which had been selected for Grognon 
appeared beside that of Gracieuse, it looked like a draught 
jade, and the housings of the beautiful steed so blazed with 
jewels that those of the other could not be compared to 
them. The King, who was occupied with a thousand things, 
took no notice of it; but the nobles had no eyes but for the 
Princess, whose beauty was their admiration, and for her 
green-clad page, who was prettier than all the other Court 
pages put together. 

They met Grognon on the road in an open carriage, 
looking more ugly and ill-shapen than an old gipsy. The 
King and the Princess embraced her. They led forward her 
horse, that she might mount, but seeing the one Gracieuse 
was upon she exclaimed, “How! Is this creature to have a 
finer horse than I? I had rather never be a queen and return 
to my precious castle than be treated in this manner!” 

The King immediately commanded the Princess to dis- 

[ 88 ] 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


mount, and to beg Grognon to do her the honor to ride her 
horse. The Princess obeyed without a murmur. Grognon 
neither looked at her, nor thanked her. She was hoisted up 
on the beautiful horse, and looked like a bundle of dirty 
clothes. Eight gentlemen held her for fear she should fall 
off. Still she was not satisfied, but muttered threats between 
her teeth. They inquired what was the matter with her. 
“The matter is,” said she, “that being the mistress, I choose 
that the green page shall hold the rein of my horse as he 
did when Gracieuse rode it.” The King ordered the green 
page to lead the Queen’s horse. Percinet looked at the 
Princess, and she at him without speaking a word. He obeyed, 
and all the Court set forward, the drums and trumpets making 
a desperate noise. Grognon was in raptures. Notwithstanding 
her flat nose and her wry mouth she would not have changed 
persons with Gracieuse. 

But at the moment when they were least thinking of it, 
lo and behold, the fine horse began to bound, to rear, and at 
length ran away at such a pace that no one could stop him. 
Off he went with Grognon, who held on by the saddle and 
by the mane, screaming with all her might. At length she 
was thrown with her foot in the stirrup. She was dragged for 
some distance over stones and thorns into a heap of mud 
where she was almost sfnothered. As everybody had run 
after her as fast as they could, they soon came up to her; 
but her skin was scratched all over, her head cut open in 
four or five places, and one of her arms broken. Never was 
a bride in a more miserable plight. 

The King seemed in despair. They picked her up in 
[ 89 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


pieces like a broken glass. Her cap was on one side, her 
shoes on the other. They carried her in to the city, put her 
to bed, and sent for the best surgeons. Ill as she was, she 
never ceased storming. “Gracieuse has played me this trick,” 
said she; “I am certain she only chose that fine but vicious 
horse in order to make me wish to ride it, and that it might 
kill me. If the King does not give me satisfaction for this 
injury I will return to my precious chateau and never see 
him again as long as I live!” The King was informed of the 
rage of Grognon. As his ruling passion was avarice, the mere 
idea of losing the hundreds of barrels of gold and diamonds 
made him shudder, and was sufficient to drive him to any¬ 
thing. He ran to the invalid, flung himself at her feet, and 
protested she had only to name the punishment Gracieuse 
deserved, and that he abandoned the Princess to her resent¬ 
ment. She professed herself satisfied, and said she would 
send for her. 

Accordingly the Princess was told Grognon wanted her. 
She turned pale and trembled, being well assured it was not 
to caress her. She looked about everywhere for Percinet, 
but he did not appear, and sadly she proceeded to Grognon’s 
apartment. Scarcely had she entered it when the doors were 
closed. Four women, who resembled as many furies, threw 
themselves on her by order of their mistress, and tore all 
her fine clothes from her back. When her shoulders were 
bare, these cruel demons could not endure their dazzling 
whiteness. They shut their eyes as though they had been 
looking for a long time on snow. “Come, come, courage!” 
cried the pitiless Grognon from out her bed. “Flay me that 
[ 90 ] 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


girl, and leave her not the least morsel of that white skin 
she thinks so beautiful.” Gracieuse prepared herself to suffer 
everything like a poor innocent lamb. The four furies were 
each armed with an alarming handful of birch twigs, and 
they had besides large brooms out of which they could pull 
fresh ones, so that they beat her without mercy, and at every 
blow Grognon called out, “Harder! harder! you spare her!” 
There is no one who would not suppose, after that, but that 
the Princess was flayed alive from head to foot. They would 
be mistaken, however; for the gallant Percinet had bewitched 
the eyes of these women. They imagined they had birch-rods 
in their hands, but they had only bunches of feathers of all 
sorts of colors, and from the moment they began to flog her, 
Gracieuse observed the fact and ceased to be afraid, saying 
to herself, “Ah, Percinet, you have most generously come 
to my assistance! What should I have done without you?” 
The beaters so fatigued themselves, that they could no longer 
lift their arms. They huddled her into her clothes and turned 
her out of the room with a thousand epithets. She returned 
to her own chamber pretending to be very ill, went to bed, 
and ordered that no one should stay near her but her nurse, 
to whom she related her adventure. She talked herself to 
sleep, the nurse left her, and on awaking she saw in a corner 
of the room the green page, whose respect prevented him 
from approaching her. She assured him she should never 
forget, as long as she lived, her obligations to him. 

Grognon was so gratified to learn that Gracieuse was in 
such a condition, that she got well in half the time she would 
otherwise have done, and the marriage was celebrated with 

[ 91 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


great magnificence. But as the King was aware that Grognon 
preferred, above everything, to be extolled for her beauty, 
he had her portrait painted, and commanded a tournament 
in which six of the best knights in his Court should maintain 
against all comers that Queen Grognon was the loveliest 
princess in the world. 

A great many foreign knights appeared in the lists to 
maintain the contrary. The baboon herself was present at 
all the encounters, seated in a grand balcony hung with cloth 
of gold, and had the pleasure of seeing the skill of her cham¬ 
pions successful in her bad cause. Gracieuse, placed behind 
her, attracted every eye, and Grognon, as silly^as she was 
vain, imagined that no one could look at anybody but her. 

There was scarcely any one left to dispute the beauty of 
Grognon, when a young knight presented himself bearing a 
portrait in a diamond box. He declared that he would main¬ 
tain Grognon was the ugliest of all old women and that she 
whose portrait was in the box was the fairest of all young 
maidens. So saying, he charged the six knights and unhorsed 
every one of them. Six others presented themselves, and so 
on to the number of four-and-twenty, all of whom he over¬ 
threw. Then opening his box, he told them that, by way of 
consolation for their defeat, he would show them the beautiful 
portrait. Everyone instantly recognized it to be that of the 
Princess Gracieuse. 

The victorious knight made her a profound obeisance, 
and retired without making himself known, but she had not 
the least doubt it was Percinet. Grognon was nearly suffo¬ 
cated with passion; her throat swelled to such a degree that 
[ 92 ] 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


she could not utter a word. She made signs that it was 
Gracieuse she was enraged at, and as soon as she could speak 
she began to rave like a mad woman. “How!” she exclaimed. 
“Dare to dispute with me the palm of beauty! To bring 
such disgrace upon my knights! No, I cannot endure it; 
I must have vengeance or death!” 

“Madam,” said the Princess, “I protest that I had not 
the least hand in anything that has happened. I am ready 
to attest with my blood, if it be your pleasure, that you are 
the handsomest person in the world, and that I am a monster 
of ugliness.” 

“Ah, you can joke, can you, my little darling?” replied 
Grognon, “but I will have my turn before long.” The King 
was informed of the rage of his wife, and that the Princess 
was dying with terror, and implored him to have pity on 
her, as should he leave her to the mercy of the Queen she 
would do her a thousand mischiefs. He was perfectly unmoved 
by the appeal, and simply answered, “I have given her to her 
stepmother. She may do as she pleases with her.” 

The wicked Grognon waited impatiently for night to 
arrive. As soon as it was dark she ordered the horses to be 
put to her travelling carriage. Gracieuse was forced into it, 
and under a strong escort she was conveyed to a large forest 
a hundred leagues distant, through which nobody dared pass, 
as it was full of lions, bears, tigers, and wolves. When they 
had reached the middle of the terrible wood they made the 
Princess alight, and left her there regardless of her piteous 
supplications. “I do not ask you to spare my life,” she cried, 
“I only request immediate death. Kill me and spare me all 

[ 93 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


the tortures I must suffer here!” They were deaf to her 
entreaties. They did not even deign to answer her, and 
galloping off, left the lovely and unfortunate maiden alone 
in the forest. She hurried on for some time without knowing 
whither she was going, now running against some tree, now 
falling, now entangled in the bushes, till at length, over¬ 
whelmed with anguish, she threw herself on the ground unable 
to rise again. “Percinet!” she cried twice or thrice, “Percinet! 
Where are you? Is it possible you can have abandoned me?” 
As she uttered the last words, she suddenly beheld the most 
surprising thing in the world. It was an illumination so 
magnificent that there was not a tree in the forest on which 
there were not several chandeliers filled with wax lights, and 
at the far end of an avenue she perceived a palace built 
entirely of crystal, which blazed like the sun. She began to 
imagine Percinet had some hand in this new enchantment, 
and felt her joy a little mingled with fear. “I am alone,” 
she said, “the Prince is young, amiable, in love, and I ow’e 
him my life! Ah! It is too much! Let me fly from him! — 
Better for me to die than love him!” So saying, she managed 
to rise from the ground, notwithstanding her weariness and 
weakness, and without casting another look towards the 
splendid palace she hurried off in an opposite direction, so 
distressed and so bewildered by the various feelings which 
agitated her that she did not know what she was doing. 

At that moment she heard a noise behind her. Fear 
seized her. She thought it was some wild beast that was 
about to devour her. She looked back, trembling, and beheld 
Prince Percinet. “You fly me, my Princess!” said he. “You 

[ 94 ] 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


fear me when I adore you! Come! come without fear, into 
the fairy palace. You will find there the Queen, my mother, 
and my sisters, who already love you tenderly from my 
account of you.” 

Gracieuse, charmed by the humble and engaging manner 
in which her young lover addressed her, could not refuse to 
enter with him a little sledge, painted and gilt, and drawn 
by two stags, at a prodigiously swift pace, so that in a very 
short time he conducted her to a thousand points in the forest, 
each of which appeared to her admirable. It was throughout 
as light as day. There were shepherds and shepherdesses 
gallantly dressed who danced to the sound of flutes and 
bagpipes. In other spots, by the side of fountains, she saw 
village swains and maidens feasting and singing gaily. “I 
thought this forest was uninhabited,” said she to the Prince, 
“but it seems full of happy people.” 

“From the moment you set foot in it,” replied Percinet, 
“this gloomy solitude became the abode of pleasure and 
mirth. The loves accompany you, and flowers grow beneath 
your feet.” Gracieuse requested him to conduct her to his 
mother, the Queen. He immediately ordered the stags to 
proceed to the fairy palace. As she approached it she heard 
most exquisite music, and the Queen with two of her daugh¬ 
ters met her, embraced her, and led her into a large saloon, 
the walls of which were of rock-crystal. She observed, with 
great astonishment, that all her own history to that very 
day was engraved upon the walls, even the excursion she 
had just made with the Prince in the sledge; and the execu¬ 
tion of the work was so fine that the masterpieces Greece 

[ 95 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


ever could boast were not to be compared to it. “You have 
very diligent artists/’ said Gracieuse to Percinet; “every 
action, every gesture of mine is instantly sculptured.” 

“Because I would not lose the recollection of the slightest 
circumstance relating to you, my Princess,” replied he. 
“Alas, in no place am I happy or contented!” She made 
him no answer; but thanked the Queen for the manner in 
which she had received her. A grand banquet was served 
up, to which Gracieuse did justice, for she was delighted to 
have found Percinet in lieu of the bears and lions she had 
dreaded to meet in the forest. 

The two princesses, by order of the Queen, conducted 
Gracieuse to her apartments. Never was anything so mag¬ 
nificent as the furniture, or so elegant as the bed and bed¬ 
chamber appropriated to her. She was waited on by four- 
and-twenty maidens attired as nymphs, the eldest was but 
eighteen, and each a miracle of beauty. As soon as she was 
in bed a strain of exquisite music wooed her to sleep; but 
wonder prevented her closing her eyes. “All I have seen,” 
said she to herself, “is enchantment! How greatly is so 
amiable and gifted a prince to be feared! I cannot fly these 
scenes too soon!” — and yet the idea of leaving them caused 
her considerable pain. To quit so magnificent a palace to 
place herself in the power of the barbarous Grognon! The 
sacrifice was great — one might at least hesitate; on the 
other hand, she found Percinet so engaging she feared to 
remain in a palace of which he was the master. As soon as 
she rose in the morning they brought her dresses of every 
color, sets of jewelry of every fashion, laces, ribbons, gloves, 

[ 96 ] 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


silk stockings, all in the most marvellous taste. Nothing 
was wanting! Her toilet was of chased gold; she had never 
been so perfectly dressed, and had never looked so beautiful. 
Percinet entered the room in a dress of green and gold (green 
was his color because Gracieuse was fond of it). All those 
we have heard boasted of as the best-formed and most amiable 
of men would have lost by comparison with this young Prince. 
Gracieuse told him she had not been able to sleep; that the 
recollection of her misfortunes tormented her, and that she 
could not help dreading the consequences. “What can alarm 
you, madam?” said he; “you are sovereign here — you are 
here adored — would you abandon me for your cruel enemy?” 

“If I were my own mistress,” she replied, “1 would 
accept your proposal; but I am accountable to the King, my 
father, for my actions, and it is better to suffer than fail in 
my duty.” 

Percinet said everything in the world he could think of 
to persuade her to marry him; but she would not consent, 
and it was almost in spite of herself that she was induced 
to remain one week, during which he invented a thousand 
new pleasures for her entertainment. She often said to the 
Prince, “I should much like to know what is passing in 
Grognon’s Court, and how she has glossed over her conduct 
to me.” 

Percinet told her he would send his squire to ascertain, 
who was an intelligent person. She replied that she was 
convinced he had no need of any one to inform him of what 
was going on, and that therefore he could tell her immediately 
if he chose. “Come then with me,” said he, “into the great 

[ 97 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


tower, and you shall see for yourself.” Thereupon he led 
her to the top of an exceedingly high tower which was all of 
rock crystal, like the rest of the ch&teau. He told her to 
place her foot on his, and her little finger in his mouth, and 
then to look in the direction of the city. She immediately 
perceived that the wicked Grognon was with the King, 
and that she was saying to him, 4 ‘That wretched Princess 
has hanged herself in the cellar; I have just seen her, she is a 
most horrible sight; she must be buried immediately, and 
you will soon get over so trifling a loss.” 

The King began to weep for the death of his daughter. 
Grognon turned her back upon him, retired to her apartments, 
caused a log of wood to be dressed up in a cap, and well 
wrapped in graveclothes, put into a coffin, and then by order 
of the King there was a grand funeral, which was attended 
by everybody, weeping and cursing the cruel stepmother, 
whom they accused of having caused the death of the Princess. 
All the people went into deep mourning, and she heard the 
lamentations for her loss, and that they whispered to one 
another, “ What a pity that this lovely young princess should 
perish through the cruelties of such a wicked creature! She 
ought to be cut to pieces and made into a pie!” The King 
could neither eat nor drink, and cried ready to break his 
heart. 

Gracieuse, seeing her father so afflicted, exclaimed, “Ah, 
Percinet, I cannot allow my father to believe any longer that 
I am dead. If you love me, take me back to him.” All he 
could urge was in vain; he was compelled to obey, though 
with great reluctance. “My Princess,” said he, “you will 
[ 98 ] 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


regret more than once leaving this fairy palace; for, as to 
myself, I dare not think you will regret me. You are more 
unmerciful to me than Grognon is to you/’ It was of no 
use talking; she would go. She took leave of the Prince’s 
mother and sisters, entered the sledge with him, and the 
stags started off. As she left the palace she heard a great 
noise. She looked back; it was the entire building which had 
fallen and lay broken into a thousand fragments. 

“What do I see?” she cried; “the palace destroyed!” 

“My palace,” replied Percinet, “shall be amongst the 
dead. You will never re-enter it till after you are buried.” 

“You are angry,” said Gracieuse, endeavoring to appease 
him. “But am I not, in fact, more to be pitied than you?” 

On arriving at the city, Percinet caused the Princess, 
himself, and the sledge to be invisible. Gracieuse ascended 
to the King’s apartment and flung herself at his feet. When 
he saw her, he was frightened and would have run away, 
taking her for a ghost. She stopped him, and assured him 
she was not dead; that Grognon had caused her to be carried 
off into the wilderness; that she had climbed up a tree, where 
she had lived upon wild fruits; that they had buried a log 
of wood in her place, and ended, by begging him, for mercy’s 
sake, to send her to one of his castles, where she might no 
longer be exposed to the fury of her stepmother. 

The King, scarcely able to credit her story, had the log 
of wood taken up, and was astounded at the malice of Grognon. 
Any other monarch would have ordered Grognon to be 
buried alive in its place; but he was a poor weak man. He 
caressed his daughter a good deal, and made her sup with 

[ 99 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


him. When Grognon’s creatures ran and told her of the 
return of the Princess, and that she was supping with the 
King, she began to rave like a mad woman, and rushing to 
him, told him there must be no hesitation about it; he must 
either abandon that cheat to her, or see her, on the instant, 
take her departure never to return as long as she lived. That 
it was mere folly to believe that the girl was the Princess 
Gracieuse. It was true she resembled her slightly, but that 
Gracieuse had hanged herself; that she had seen her with 
her own eyes, and that if any credence was given to the story 
of that impostor, it would be an unpardonable want of respect 
to, and confidence in her. The King without another word 
gave up to her the unfortunate Princess, believing, or feigning 
to believe, that she was not his daughter. 

Grognon, transported with joy, dragged her, with the 
help of her women, into a dungeon, where she had her stripped. 
They took away her costly garments and threw over her a 
rag of coarse cloth, putting wooden shoes on her feet and a 
hood of drugget on her head. They barely gave her straw 
enough to lie upon, and a little black bread to eat. 

In this distress, she began to weep bitterly, and to regret 
the fairy palace; but she dared not call on Percinet for 
succour, feeling that she had treated him too unkindly, and 
not being able to believe he loved her enough to come again 
to her aid. In the meanwhile, the wicked Grognon had sent 
for a Fairy who was little less malicious than herself. “I 
have here in mv power,” she said, “a little hussy who has 
offended me. I want to punish her, by giving her such difficult 
tasks to execute that she will not be able to perform them, 
[ 100 ] 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


and so that I may break her bones without giving her a right 
to complain. Help me to find a new torment for her every 
day.” The Fairy told her she would think of it, and that 
she should see her again the next morning. She kept her 
word. She brought a skein of thread as big as four grown-up 
people, so finely spun that it would break if you breathed 
on it, and so tangled that it was in a bundle without beginning 
or end. Grognon, delighted, sent for her beautiful prisoner, 
and said to her — “ There, my good little gossip, set your 
great powers at work to wind off this skein of thread; and 
rest assured that if you break the least bit of it, you are lost, 
for I will flay you alive, myself! Begin whenever you please; 
but it must be wound off before sunset.” With that she 
shut her up in a room under three locks. 

The Princess was no sooner left alone than, examining 
the enormous skein and turning it over and over, breaking 
a thousand threads in trying to find one to begin with, she 
became so confused that she ceased attempting to unravel 
it; and, flinging it into the middle of the room, “Go,” she 
cried, “fatal thread, thou wilt be the cause of my death! 
Ah, Percinet! Percinet! if my cruelty has not completely 
offended you, I implore you to hasten — not to save me, but 
only to receive my last farewell.” Thereupon she began to 
weep so bitterly, that even one who was not a tender lover 
must have been touched by it. Percinet opened the door 
as easily as if he had had the key in his pocket. “I am here, 
my Princess,” said he to her, “always ready to serve you. 
I am not capable of deserting you, notwithstanding the poor 
return you make to my affection.”^He struck the skein three 
[ 101 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


times with his wand; the broken threads were immediately 
rejoined, and two more taps unravelled it with most aston¬ 
ishing perfection. He inquired if there was any other service 
he could render her, and whether she would never call on 
him but when she was in trouble. 

“Do not reproach me, handsome Percinet,” said she; 
“I am already sufficiently miserable.” 

“But, my Princess, it is in your own power to liberate 
yourself from the tyranny of which you are the victim. Come 
with me. Complete our mutual happiness. What do you 
fear?” 

“That you do not love me well enough,” replied she. “I 
would have time to be convinced of your affection.” Percinet, 
exasperated by her suspicions, bowed and disappeared. 

The sun was just about to set; Grognon awaited the 
moment with the greatest impatience. At length she antici¬ 
pated it, and came with her four furies, who accompanied 
her everywhere. She put the three keys into the three locks, 
and said as she opened the door, “I’ll wager, now, that this 
idle beauty hasn’t wagged one of her ten fingers. She would 
much rather have slept to improve her complexion.” As 
soon as she entered, Gracieuse presented her with the ball 
of thread quite perfect. She had not a word to say, except 
that Gracieuse had soiled it, — that she was a dirty creature; 
and for that gave her two such slaps on the face that the 
roses and lilies of her cheeks turned blue and yellow. The 
hapless Gracieuse bore patiently an insult she was not in a 
position to resent. They took her back to her dungeon, and 
locked her up carefully. Grognon, vexed that she had not 
[ 102 ] 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


succeeded with the skein of thread, sent for the Fairy, and 
loaded her with reproaches. “Find out something,” she said, 
“so difficult that she cannot possibly accomplish it.” The 
Fairy departed, and the next day returned with a great 
barrel full of feathers. There were some of all sorts of birds 
— nightingales, canaries, greenfinches, goldfinches, linnets, 
redwings, parrots, owls, sparrows, doves, ostriches, bustards, 
peacocks, larks, partridges; — I should never have finished 
if I attempted to name them all. These feathers were so 
mixed together that the birds themselves could not have 
recognized their own. 

“Here,” said the Fairy to Grognon, “is what will try the 
skill and patience of your prisoner. Order her to pick out 
these feathers, and put the peacock’s, the nightingale’s, and 
every other sort, each by themselves in separate heaps. It 
would be a task for a fairy.” Grognon was ready to die with 
joy, picturing to herself the perplexity of the wretched Princess. 
She sent for her, threatened her as before, and shut her up 
with the barrel in the chamber under three locks, ordering 
her to finish her work by sunset. 

Gracieuse took out some of the feathers; but finding it 
impossible to distinguish the different kinds, threw them 
back again into the barrel; then took them out again, and 
made several attempts to sort them, but perceiving the task 
was impossible, “Let me die,” she cried, despairingly. “It is 
my death they seek, and death will end my misfortunes. 
I will not again call Percinet to my assistance. If he loved 
me he would have been already here.” 

“I am here, my Princess,” exclaimed Percinet, rising out 
[ 103 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


of the barrel in which he had concealed himself. “I am here 
to extricate you from the difficulty you are in. Can you 
doubt, after so many proofs of my affection, that I love you 
more than my life?” Immediately he gave the barrel three 
taps with his wand, and the feathers came out by millions 
and sorted themselves into little heaps all around the room. 

“What do I not owe you, my lord!” said Gracieuse. “But 
for you I must have perished. Rest assured of my entire 
gratitude!” The Prince tried everything to persuade her to 
take a firm resolution in his favor. She still asked for time, 
and though with considerable violence to his own feelings 
he granted her request. 

Grognon arrived, and was so thunderstruck by what she 
saw that she was at her wits’ end how further to torment 
Gracieuse. She did not omit to beat her, however, saying 
that the feathers were ill arranged. She sent for the Fairy, 
and flew into a violent passion with her. The Fairy knew 
not how to answer her; she was perfectly confounded. At 
length she told Grognon that she would employ all her 
skill in making a box which should bring her prisoner into 
great trouble if she ventured to open it; and a few days 
afterwards she brought a box of a tolerable size. 

“Here,” said she to Grognon, “order your slave to carry 
this somewhere. Forbid her, particularly, to open it. She 
will not be able to resist it, and you will be satisfied.” Grognon 
followed her instructions implicitly. 

“Carry the box,” said she to Gracieuse, “to my fine 
chateau, and place it on the table in my closet; but I forbid 
you, under pain of death, to look at what it contains.” 

[ 104 ] 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


Gracieuse set off with her wooden shoes, her cloth dress, 
and her woollen hood. All who met her exclaimed, “That 
must be a goddess in disguise!” for nothing could conceal 
her marvellous beauty. She had not walked far before she 
felt tired. In passing through a little wood, on the skirt of 
a pleasant meadow, she sat down to take breath. She placed 
the box on her knees, and suddenly felt an inclination to 
open it. 

“What can happen to me?” said she; “I won’t take 
anything out of it, but only see what there is in it.” She 
thought no more of the consequences, but opened the box, 
and immediately out came a quantity of little men and 
women, fiddlers, musical instruments, little tables, little 
cooks, little dishes, — in fact, the giant of the party was 
not bigger than one’s finger. They skipped about the meadow, 
divided themselves into several groups, and began the prettiest 
ball that ever was seen. Some danced, others cooked, others 
feasted, the little fiddlers played admirably. Gracieuse, at 
first, was somewhat amused by so extraordinary a sight; 
but after she had rested a little, and wanted to get them back 
into the box, not one of them would obey her. The little 
gentlemen and ladies ran away. The fiddlers followed their 
example. The cooks, with their stewpans on their heads and 
their spits on their shoulders, scampered into the wood when 
she entered the meadow, and into the meadow again when 
she entered the wood. 

“O curiosity!” said Gracieuse, weeping, “thou wilt be 
too favorable to my enemy. The only misfortune I could 
have avoided has been brought on me by my own folly. 

[ 105 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


Oh, I cannot sufficiently blame myself! Percinet!” she cried, 
“Percinet! If it be possible you can still love such an impru¬ 
dent princess, come and help me in this, the most unfortunate 
occurrence in my life!” 

Percinet did not wait to be called thrice. She saw him 
appear instantly in his splendid green dress. 

“If it were not for the wicked Grognon,” said he, “beau¬ 
tiful Princess, you would never think of me.” 

“Oh, think better of my sentiments,” she replied; “I am 
not so insensible to merit, nor so ungrateful for benefits con¬ 
ferred on me. It is true I try your constancy; but it is to 
reward it when I am convinced.” Percinet, more happy 
than he had ever been before, tapped the box thrice with 
his wand, and immediately the little men and women, fiddlers, 
cooks, and roast-meat, were all packed into it as neatly as 
if they had never been out of it. Percinet had left his chariot 
in the wood. He begged the Princess to make use of it to go 
to the rich chateau. She had much need of the carriage in 
the state she was in, so, making her invisible, he drove her 
himself and enjoyed the pleasure of her company — a pleasure 
which my chronicle asserts she was not indifferent to at the 
bottom of her heart; but she carefully concealed her sentiments. 

She arrived at the rich chateau, and when she demanded 
in the name of Grognon to be shown into the Queen’s closet, 
the governor burst into a fit of laughter. “What,” said he, 
“do you imagine that you are to leave your sheep to be 
admitted into so beautiful a place? Be off with you wherever 
you like; never did wooden shoes tread those floors.” Gracieuse 
begged him to write a line stating his refusal. He did so, and 
[ 106 ] 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


quitting the rich chateau she found the amiable Percinet 
awaiting her, who drove her back to the palace. It would 
be difficult to write down all the tender and respectful things 
he said to her on the road in the hope of persuading her to 
put an end to his unhappiness. She promised him that if 
Grognon played her another wicked trick she would consent. 

When her vile stepmother saw her return she flew at the 
Fairy, whom she had detained, and scratched, and would 
have strangled her, if a Fairy could have been strangled. 
Gracieuse presented her with the governor’s letter and the 
box. She threw both into the fire, without deigning to open 
either, and if she was herself to be believed, she would have 
willingly flung the Princess into it also; but she did not long 
postpone her punishment. She had a great hole dug in the 
garden as deep as a well; over it they placed a large stone. 
She then went to walk in the garden, and said to Gracieuse 
and those who accompanied her, “ Here is a stone under which 
I am informed there is a treasure, come, let us lift it quickly.” 
Each lent a helping hand; Gracieuse amongst the rest. This 
was exactly what Grognon wanted. As soon as the Princess 
was on the brink of the pit, Grognon pushed her violently 
into it, and the others let the stone fall again on the top of it. 
This time the case was indeed a hopeless one. How was 
Percinet to find her in the bowels of the earth? She perfectly 
understood the difficulty of her position, and repented having 
so long delayed marrying him. “How terrible is my fate!” 
she cried; “I am buried alive! — the most dreadful of all deaths. 
You are revenged for my hesitation, Percinet; but I feared 
you were of the same inconstant nature as other men, who 
[ 107 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


change as soon as they are sure they are beloved. I wished 
to be convinced of your constancy; my prudent suspicions 
are the cause of my present condition. If I could still hope 
you would regret my loss, my fate would be less painful.” 
She was thus giving vent to her anguish when she saw a 
little door open, which had escaped her attention in the 
darkness, and through it perceived the light of day, and 
gardens filled with flowers, fruits, fountains, grottoes, statues, 
bowers, and summer-houses. She did not hesitate to enter it. 
She advanced up a grand avenue, wondering what would 
be the end of this adventure. Almost at the same moment 
she perceived the fairy palace. She had not much difficulty 
in recognizing it, independently of the facts that one rarely 
finds a building entirely of rock crystal, and that she perceived 
all her recent adventures were engraved in it. Percinet 
appeared with the Queen, his mother, and his sisters. 

“Refuse no longer, lovely Princess,” said the Queen to 
Gracieuse; “it is time to make my son happy, and to relieve 
you from the deplorable life you lead under the tyranny of 
Grognon.” 

The grateful Princess fell on her knees before her, and 
told her she placed her fate in her hands, and that she would 
obey her in all things. That she had not forgotten the proph¬ 
ecy of Percinet at the time she left the Fairy Palace, when 
he said to her that that very palace would be amongst the 
dead, and that she would never re-enter it till after she had 
been buried. That she had the greatest admiration for his 
wisdom, and no less for his worth, and that she accepted him 
for her husband. The Prince in his turn knelt at her feet; 

[ 108 ] 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


and at the same instant the palace rang with shouts and 
music, and the marriage was celebrated with the greatest 
magnificence. All the fairies for a thousand leagues round 
appeared with sumptuous equipages; some came in cars drawn 
by swans, others by dragons, others on clouds, others in 
globes of fire. Amongst them appeared the Fairy who had 
assisted Grognon to torment Gracieuse. When she recognized 
the Princess, never was any one so surprised. She conjured 
her to forget the past, and promised she would take every 
means of atoning for the misery she had made her suffer. 
Actually, she would not stay for the banquet; but, re-ascending 
her car drawn by two terrible serpents, she flew to the King’s 
palace, sought out Grognon, and wrung her neck before the 
guards or her women could interfere to prevent her. 


[ 109 ] 


THE BENEVOLENT FROG 


O NCE upon a time there was a King who for many 
syears had been at war, and whose enemy at last laid 
siege to his capital. The King begged the Queen 
to retire to a fortified castle; but she endeavored to persuade 
him to allow her to remain beside him and to share his fate, 
and it was with cries of grief that she was put into her chariot 
by the King to be driven away. He promised to visit her, 
although he knew that there was little chance of it, for the 
castle stood a long distance off, surrounded by a thick forest, 
and only those who were well acquainted with the roads could 
possibly find their way to it. 

The Queen at last reached the castle, feeling sorrowful and 
distressed. When she was sufficiently rested, she walked about 
the country, but found nothing to interest her or change her 
thoughts. She saw only far-spreading desert tracts on either 
side. Sadly she gazed around her, exclaiming at intervals, 
“What a contrast to the place in which I have lived all my 
life! If I stay here long I shall die! WTiat have I done to the 
King that he should banish me to this miserable castle ?" 

Although the King wrote daily to her, and sent her good 
news of the progress of the siege, she grew more and more 
unhappy, and at last determined that she would return to 
him. She kept her plan secret, but ordered a small chariot 
to be built for her, in which there was only room for one, 
saying that she should like sometimes to accompany the 
[ 110 ] 


THE BENEVOLENT FROG 


hunt. She drove herself, and followed so closely on the 
hounds, that the huntsmen were left behind; by which means 
she had sole command of her chariot, and could get away 
whenever she liked. Her only difficulty was her ignorance 
of the roads that crossed the forest. She gave word that 
there was to be a great hunt, and that she herself would go 
in her chariot. Everything was done according to her orders. 

While everybody was occupied with the pleasures of the 
hunt, she gave rein to her horses, encouraging them with 
voice and whip; and soon their quickened pace became a 
gallop. Then, taking the bit between their teeth, they flew 
along at such a speed that the chariot seemed borne by the 
winds. Too late the poor Queen repented of her rashness: 
“What could I have been thinking of?” she said. “How 
could I have imagined that I should be able to control such 
wild and fiery horses? Alas! what will become of me?” The 
air resounded with her piteous lamentations; she invoked 
Heaven; she called the fairies to her assistance; but it seemed 
that all the powers had abandoned her. The chariot was 
overthrown. She had not sufficient strength to jump quickly 
enough to the ground, and her foot was caught between the 
wheel and the axle-tree. 

She remained stretched on the ground at the foot of a 
tree; her heart scarcely beat, she could not speak, and her 
face was covered with blood. When at last she opened her 
eyes she saw standing near her a gigantic woman clothed 
only in a lion’s skin, with bare arms and legs; her hair tied 
up with the dried skin of a snake, the head of which dangled 
over her shoulders. In her hand was a club made of stone, 
[ 111 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 

which served her as a walking-stick, and a quiver full of 
arrows was fastened to her side. When the Queen caught 
sight of this extraordinary figure, she felt sure that she was 
dead, for she did not think it was possible that she could 
be alive after such a terrible accident, and she said in a low 
voice to herself, “I am not surprised that it is so difficult to 
resolve to die, since what is in the other world is so frightful.” 
The giantess, who overheard her words, could not help laugh¬ 
ing at the Queen’s idea that she was dead. “Take courage,” 
she said to her, “for you are still among the living; but your 
fate is none the less sad. I am the Fairy Lioness, whose 
dwelling is near here; you must come and live with me.” 
The Queen looked sorrowfully at her, and said, “If you will 
be good enough, Madam Lioness, to take me back to my 
castle, and tell the King what ransom you demand, he loves 
me so dearly that he will not refuse you even the half of his 
kingdom.” “No,” replied the giantess, “I am rich enough, 
but for some time past my lonely life has seemed dull to me; 
you are intelligent, and will be able perhaps to amuse me.” 
As she finished speaking, she took the form of a lioness, and 
placing the Queen on her back she carried her to the depths 
of her cave, and there rubbed her with a spirit which quickly 
healed the Queen’s wounds. This dreadful abode was only 
reached by ten thousand steps, which led down to the center 
of the earth. There was no light but that shed by a number 
of tall lamps, which were reflected in a lake of quicksilver. 
This lake was full of monsters, filling the air with discordant 
sounds. In the distance could be seen a mountain whence 
flowed the sluggish waters of a stream composed of all the 
[ 112 ] 


THE BENEVOLENT FROG 


tears shed by unhappy lovers. The trees were bare of leaves 
and fruit, the ground covered with briars and nettles. 

A few dried roots, some horse-chestnuts, and thorn-apples 
were all that was provided by the Fairy Lioness to appease 
the hunger of those who fell into her hands. 

The fairy told the Queen she could build herself a hut, 
as she was going to remain with her for the rest of her life. 
On hearing this, the Queen could no longer restrain her 
tears. But the Lioness only scoffed at her, and told her 
that the best thing she could do was to dry her tears and 
try to please; for if she acted otherwise, she would be the 
most miserable person in the world. 

“What must I do then,” replied the Queen, “to soften 
your heart?” “I am fond of fly-pasties,” said the Lioness. 
“You must find means of procuring a sufficient number of 
flies to make me a large and sweet-tasting one.” “But,” 
said the Queen, “I see no flies here, and even were there 
any, it is not light enough to catch them; and if I were to 
catch some, I have never in my life made pastry.” “No 
matter,” said the pitiless Lioness; “that which I wish to 
have, I will have.” 

The Queen thought to herself that she had but one life 
to lose, and in the condition in which she then was, what 
was there to fear in death? So instead of going in search 
of flies, she sat herself down under a yew tree and began 
to weep and complain: “Ah, my dear husband, when you 
go to the castle to fetch me, and find I am not there, you 
will think that I am dead. Perhaps some one will find the 
remains of my chariot and all the ornaments which I took 

[ 113 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


with me to please you; and when you see these, you will 
no longer doubt that death has taken me.” She was inter¬ 
rupted by a dismal croaking above her head. She lifted 
her eyes, and saw a large raven with a frog in its bill, and 
about to swallow it. So picking up the first stick she could 
find, she made the raven drop its prey. 

The frog fell to the ground, where it lay for a time half 
stunned, but finally recovering its senses, it began to speak, 
and said: “Beautiful Queen, you are the first benevolent 
person that I have seen since my curiosity brought me 
here.” 

“By what wonderful power are you enabled to speak, 
little Frog?” responded the Queen, “and what kind of people 
do you see here? for as yet I have seen none.” 

“All the monsters that cover the lake,” replied the little 
Frog, “were once in the world: some on thrones, some in 
high positions at court. There are even here some royal 
ladies, who caused much strife and bloodshed.” 

“But you, my little Frog friend,” said the Queen, “what 
are you doing here?” 

“It was curiosity which led me here,” she replied. “I 
am half a fairy, my powers are restricted with regard to 
certain things, but far-reaching in others; if the Fairy Lioness 
knew that I was in her dominions, she would kill me. When 
I have my little cap of roses on my head, I fear nothing, as 
in that resides most of my power. Unfortunately, I had left 
it in the marsh when that ugly raven pounced upon me. 
If it had not been for you, madam, I should be no more; 
and as you have saved my life, you have only to command, and I 
[ 114 ] 


THE BENEVOLENT FROG 


will do all in my power to alleviate the sorrows of your own” 

“Alas! dear Frog,” said the Queen, “the wicked fairy 
who holds me captive wishes me to make her a fly-pasty; 
but there are no flies here, and if there were any, I could 
not see in the dim light to catch them. I run a chance, there¬ 
fore, of being killed by her blows.” 

“Leave it to me,” said the Frog, “I will soon get you 
some.” Whereupon the Frog rubbed herself over with sugar, 
and more than six thousand of her frog friends did likewise. 
Then they went to a place where the fairy kept a large store 
of flies for the purpose of tormenting some of her unhappy 
victims. As soon as the flies' smelled the sugar they flew to 
it, and stuck to the frogs, and these kind helpers returned 
at a gallop to the Queen. There had never been such a fly- 
catching before, nor a better pasty than that the Queen 
made for the fairy. The latter was greatly surprised when 
the Queen handed it to her, and could not imagine how she 
had been clever enough to catch the flies. 

The Frog, who thought of everything that was necessary 
for the Queen’s comfort, made her a bed of wild thyme. 
When the wicked fairy found out that the Queen did not 
sleep on the ground, she sent for her: “What gods or men 
are they who protect you?” she asked. “This land, watered 
only by showers of burning sulphur, has never produced 
even a leaf of sage; I am told, nevertheless, that sweet-smelling 
herbs spring up beneath your feet!” “I cannot explain it, 
madam,” said the Queen, “unless the cause is due to the 
child I hope one day to have, who will perhaps be less unhappy 
than I am.” 


[ 115 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


Meanwhile the Queen was continually thinking by what 
means she could escape. She confided her longing to the 
Frog, who said to her, “Madam, allow me first to consult 
my little cap.” She took her cap, placed it on some straw, 
and then burned in front of it a few sprigs of juniper, some 
capers, and two green peas. She then croaked five times, 
and the ceremony being then completed, she put on her cap 
again and began speaking like an oracle. “Fate, the ruler 
of all things, forbids you to leave this place. You will have 
a little Princess, more beautiful than Venus herself. Do not 
trouble yourself about anything else. Time alone can com¬ 
fort you.” The Queen’s head drooped, a few tears fell from 
her eyes, but she resolved to trust her friend. “At least,” 
she said to her, “do not leave me here alone; and befriend 
me when my little one is born.” The Frog promised to 
remain with her, and comforted her as best she could. 

But it is now time to return to the King. While the 
enemy kept him shut up in his capital he could not continually 
send messages to the Queen; but after several sorties he 
obliged the besiegers to retire, and he rejoiced at his success 
less on his own account than on that of the Queen, whom 
he could now bring back in safety. He was in total ignorance 
of the disaster which had befallen her, for none of his officers 
had dared to tell him of it. They had been into the forest 
and found the remains of the chariot, the runaway horses, 
and the driving apparel which she had put on when going 
to find her husband. As they were fully persuaded that she 
was dead, and had been eaten by wild beasts, their only care 
was to make the King believe that she had died suddenly. 

[ 116 ] 


THE BENEVOLENT FROG 


On receiving this mournful intelligence, he thought he should 
die himself of grief. For some days he would see no one, nor 
allow himself to be seen. He then returned to his capital, 
and entered on a long period of mourning. 

Meanwhile, a little Princess had been born to the Queen, 
as beautiful as the Frog had predicted, to whom they gave 
the name of Moufette. The Queen had great difficulty in 
persuading the fairy to allow her to bring up the child, for 
so ferocious was she, that she would have liked to eat it. 

Moufette. a wonder of beauty, was now six months old; 
and the Queen, as she looked upon her with a tenderness 
mingled with pity, continually said: “Ah! if your father 
could see you, my poor little one, how delighted he would 
be! how dear you would be to him! But even already, maybe, 
he has begun to forget me; he believes, no doubt, that we 
are lost to him in death.” 

The Frog, seeing her cry like this, said to her: “If you 
would like me to do so, madam, I will go and find the King, 
your husband. The journey is long, and I travel but slowly; 
but, sooner or later, I shall arrive.” The Queen clasped 
her hands, and made Moufette clasp hers too, in sign of the 
gratitude she felt towards Madam Frog. “But,” she con¬ 
tinued, “of what use will it be to him to know that I am in 
this melancholy abode; it will be impossible for him to deliver 
me from it?” “Madam,” replied the Frog, “we must leave 
that to Heaven; we can only do that which depends on 
ourselves.” 

The Queen sent a message to the King, written with her 
blood on a piece of rag; for she possessed neither ink nor 
[ 117 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


paper. She begged him to give attention to everything the 
good Frog told him, and to believe all she said. 

The Frog was a year and four days climbing up the ten 
thousand steps which lead from the dark country, in which 
she had left the Queen, up into the world. It took her another 
year to prepare her equipage, for she had too much pride 
to allow herself to appear at the Court like a poor, common 
frog from the marshes. She had a little sedan-chair made, 
large enough to hold two eggs comfortably. It was covered 
on the outside with tortoise-shell, and lined with lizard-skin. 
Then she chose fifty maids of honor from the little green 
frogs which hop about the meadows. Each was mounted 
on a snail, furnished with a light saddle. Several water-rats, 
dressed as pages, ran before the snails, as her bodyguard. 
In short, nothing so pretty had ever been seen before, and 
to crown it all, her cap of crimson roses, always fresh and 
in full bloom, suited her in the most admirable manner. 

The journey lasted seven years, during which time the 
poor Queen went through unspeakable pains and suffering, 
and if it had not been for the beautiful Moufette, who was 
a great comfort to her, she would have died a hundred times 
over. This wonderful little creature could not open her mouth 
or say a word without filling her mother with delight. Indeed, 
everybody with the exception of the Fairy Lioness was 
enchanted with her. At last, when the Queen had lived six 
years in this horrible place, the fairy said that, provided she 
herself received everything that was killed, the Queen might 
go hunting with her. 

The joy of the Queen at once more seeing the sun may 

[ 118 ] 


THE BENEVOLENT FROG 


be imagined. So unaccustomed had she grown to its light, 
that at first she thought it would blind her. As for Moufette, 
she was so quick and intelligent, that even at five or si# 
years of age she never failed to hit her mark, and so, in this 
way, the mother and daughter succeeded in somewhat lessen¬ 
ing the ferocity of the fairy. 

The Frog traveled over mountains and valleys, never 
stopping day or night. When she drew near the capital, 
where the King was in residence, she was surprised to see 
dancing and festivity in every direction. There was laughter 
and singing, and the nearer she got to the town, the more 
joyous and jubilant the people seemed. Her rural equipage 
caused great astonishment. Every one went after it, and so 
large did the crowd become that she had great difficulty in 
making her way to the palace. Here everything was as mag¬ 
nificent as possible, for the King, who had been a widower 
for nine years, had at last yielded to the prayers of his sub¬ 
jects, and was on the eve of marriage with a Princess. 

The kind Frog, having descended from her sedan-chair, 
entered the royal presence, followed by her attendants. She 
had no need to ask for audience, for the King, his affianced 
bride, and all the princes were much too curious to know 
the reason of her coming to think of interrupting her. “Sire,” 
said she, “I hardly know whether the news I bring you will 
give you joy or sorrow. The marriage which you are about 
to celebrate convinces me of your infidelity to the Queen.” 

“Her memory is dear to me as ever,” said the King, 
unable to prevent the falling of a tear or two; “but you 
must know, kind frog, that kings are not always able to do 
[ 119 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


what they wish. For the last nine years, my subjects have 
been urging me to marry. I owe them an heir to the throne, 
and I have therefore chosen this young Princess, who appears 
to me all that is charming.” “I advise you not to marry 
her, for the Queen is not dead. I bring you a letter from 
her, written with her own blood. A little daughter, Moufette, 
has been born to you, more beautiful than the heavens them¬ 
selves.” The King took the rag on which the Queen had 
scrawled a few words. He kissed it, he bathed it in his tears, 
he showed it to the whole assembly, saying that he recognized 
his wife’s handwriting. He asked the Frog a thousand ques¬ 
tions, which she answered with vivacity and intelligence. 

The betrothed Princess and the ambassadors who had 
come to be present at the marriage began to pull long faces. 
One of the most important of the guests turned to the King, 
and said, “Sire, can you think of breaking so solemn an 
engagement on the word of a toad like that? This scum of 
the marshes has the insolence to come and tell lies before 
the whole Court for the pleasure of being heard!” 

“Know, your Excellency,” replied the Frog, “that I am 
no scum of the marshes, and since I am forced to exhibit 
my powers: Come forth, fairies all!” And thereupon all 
the frogs, rats, snails, and lizards, with the frog at their 
head, suddenly appeared; not, however, in the usual form 
of these reptiles, but with tall, majestic figures, pleasing 
countenances, and eyes more brilliant than stars. Each wore 
a jewelled crown on his head, and over his shoulders a regal 
mantle of velvet, lined with ermine, with a long train which 
was borne by dwarfs. At the same time was heard the sound 
[ 120 ] 


THE BENEVOLENT FROG 


of trumpets, kettle-drums, hautboys, and drums, filling the 
air with melodious and warlike music, and all the fairies 
began to dance a ballet, their every step so light that the 
slightest spring lifted them to the vaulted ceiling of the room. 
The King and his future Queen, surprised as they were at 
this, were no less astonished when they saw these fairy ballet 
dancers suddenly change into flowers, which continued to 
dance as if they had legs and feet. It was like a living flower¬ 
bed, of which every movement delighted both the eye and 
the sense of smell. Another moment, and the flowers had 
disappeared. In their place several fountains threw their 
waters into the air and fell into an artificial lake at the foot 
of the castle walls. This was covered with little painted and 
gilded boats, so pretty and dainty that the Princess invited 
the ambassadors to go for a trip on the water. They were 
all pleased to do so, thinking it was all a merry pastime, 
which would end happily in the marriage festivities. But 
they had no sooner embarked than the boats, water, and 
fountains disappeared, and the frogs were frogs again. The 
King asked what had become of the Princess. The Frog 
replied, “Sire, no queen is yours but your wife. Were I less 
attached to her than I am I should not interfere; but she is 
so deserving, and your daughter Moufette is so charming 
that you ought not to delay a moment in going to their 
deliverance.” 

“I assure you, Madam Frog,” said the King, “that if 
I did not believe my wife to be dead, there is nothing in the 
world I would not do to see her again.” 

“Here is a ring which will furnish you with the means 

[m] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


of seeing the Queen, and of speaking with the Fairy Lioness, 
although she is the most terrible creature in the world.” 

The King departed, refusing to have anyone to accom¬ 
pany him. “Do not be discouraged,” said the Frog to him; 
“you will meet with terrible difficulties, but I hope that you 
will succeed according to your wishes.” Somewhat comforted 
by her words, the King started in search of his dear wife, 
with no other guide than his ring. 

As Moufette grew older, her beauty became more perfect, 
and all the monsters of the quicksilver lake fell in love with 
her; and the dragons, with their hideous and terrifying forms, 
came and laid at her feet. Although Moufette had seen them 
ever since she was born, her beautiful eyes could not accustom 
themselves to the sight of these creatures, and she would 
run away and hide in her mother’s arms. “Shall we remain 
here long?” she asked her; “is there to be no end to our 
misery?” The Queen spoke hopefully in order to cheer her 
child, but in her heart she had no hope; the absence of the 
Frog, her unbroken silence, the long time that had elapsed 
since she had news of the King, all these things filled her with 
sorrow and despair. 

The Fairy Lioness had gradually made it a practice to 
take them with her hunting. She was fond of good things, 
and liked the game they killed for her, and although all they 
got in return was the gift of the head or the feet, it was some¬ 
thing to be allowed to see again the light of day. The fairy 
took the form of a lioness, the Queen and her daughter seated 
themselves on her back, and thus they went hunting through 
the forests. 


[ 122 ] 


THE BENEVOLENT FROG 


The King happened to be resting in a forest one day, 
whither his ring had guided him, and saw them pass like 
an arrow shot from the bow. He was unseen of them and 
when he tried to follow them they vanished completely from 
his sight. He longed for her to return to him, and feeling 
sure that the young Princess who was with her was his dear 
little Moufette, he determined to face a thousand deaths 
rather than abandon his design of rescuing her. 

By the help of his ring, he found his way into the obscure 
region where the Queen had been so many years, and was 
not a little surprised when he found himself descending to 
the center of the earth, but every fresh thing he saw aston¬ 
ished him more and more. The Fairy Lioness, who knew 
everything, was aware of the day and the hour when he would 
arrive. She would have given a great deal if the powers in 
league with her had ordained otherwise; but she determined 
at least to oppose his strength with the full might of her own. 

She built a palace of crystal, which floated in the center 
of the lake of quicksilver, and rose and fell with its waves. 
In it she imprisoned the Queen and her daughter, and then 
harangued all the monsters who were in love with Moufette. 
“You will lose this beautiful Princess/' she said to them, 
“if you do not help me to protect her from a knight who 
has come to carry her away.” The monsters promised to 
leave nothing in their power undone, and they surrounded 
the palace of crystal; the lightest in weight taking their 
stations on the roof and walls, the others keeping guard at 
the doors, and the remainder in the lake. 

The King, advised by his faithful ring, went first to the 
[ 123 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 

fairy’s cave. She was awaiting him in her form of lioness. 
As soon as he appeared she threw herself upon him; but he 
handled his sword with a valor for which she was not prepared, 
and as she was putting out one of her paws to fell him to the 
earth, he cut it off at the elbow joint. She uttered a loud 
cry and fell. He put his foot on her throat and swore that 
he would kill her, and in spite of her ungovernable fury and 
invulnerability, she felt a little afraid. “What do you wish 
to do with me?” she asked. “I wish to punish you,” he replied 
proudly, “for having carried away my wife, and you shall 
give her up to me or I will strangle you on the spot.” “Look 
towards the lake,” she said, “and see if I have the power to 
do so.” The King turned in the direction towards which 
she pointed, and saw the Queen and her daughter in the 
palace of crystal, which was floating like a vessel, without 
oars or rudder, on the lake of quicksilver. He was ready to 
die with mingled joy and sorrow, and called to them with 
all his might. He ran round and round the lake, but whenever 
the palace came close enough for him to spring upon it, it 
suddenly floated away again with terrible swiftness, and so 
his hopes were continually disappointed. The Queen, fearing 
he would at length grow weary, called to him not to lose 
courage. She and Moufette then stretched out their hands 
towards him with imploring gestures. Seeing this, the King 
was filled with renewed courage. No king on earth ever spent 
such a wretched time before. He had only the ground, covered 
with briars and thorns, for his bed; his food consisted of wild 
fruits, more bitter than gall, and he was incessantly engaged 
in defending himself from the monsters of the lake. 

[ 124 ] 


THE BENEVOLENT FROG 


Three years passed in this manner, and the King could 
not flatter himself that he had gained the least advantage. 
He was running one day as usual, first to one side of the 
lake then to the other, when one of the most hideous of the 
dragons called and said to him: “If you will swear to me by 
your crown and sceptre, by your wife and child, to give me, 
whenever I shall ask for it, a certain delicate morsel to eat, 
for which I have a taste, I will take you on my back, and I 
promise you that none of the monsters of this lake, who 
guard the palace, shall prevent us from carrying off the 
Queen and Princess Moufette.” 

“Ah! my beloved Dragon!” cried the King, “I swear to 
you, and to all the family of dragons, that I will give you 
your fill to eat of what you like.” “Do not make any prom¬ 
ises,” replied the Dragon, “if you have any thought of not 
fulfilling them.” The King renewed his protestations; for he 
was dying of impatience to get possession of his dear Queen. 
He mounted on the Dragon’s back, as if it was the finest 
horse in the world, but the other monsters now advanced to 
bar his passage. They fought together, nothing was to be 
heard but the sharp hissing of the serpents, nothing to be 
seen but fire, and sulphur, and saltpetre, falling in every 
direction. At last the King reached the palace, but here the 
entrances were defended by bats, owls, and ravens; but the 
Dragon, with his claws, his teeth and tail, cut to pieces even 
the boldest of these. The Queen, who was looking on at this 
fierce encounter, kicked away pieces of the wall, and armed 
herself with these to help her dear husband. They were at 
last victorious. They ran into one another’s arms, and the 

[ 125 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


work of disenchantment was completed by a thunderbolt, 
which fell into the lake and dried it up. 

The friendly Dragon had disappeared with all the other 
monsters, and the King, by what means he could not guess, 
found himself again in his own capital, seated, with his Queen 
and Moufette, in a magnificent dining-hall, with a table 
spread with exquisite meats in front of them. Such joy and 
astonishment as theirs were unknown before. All their sub¬ 
jects ran in to see the Queen and the young Princess, who, 
to add to the wonder of it all, was so superbly dressed that 
the eye could hardly bear to look upon her dazzling jewels. 

It is easy to imagine the festivities that now went on 
at the castle. Masquerades, running at the ring, and tour¬ 
naments attracted the greatest princes in the world; but 
even more were they attracted by the bright eyes of Moufette. 
Among those who were the handsomest and most accom¬ 
plished in feats of arms, Prince Moufy everywhere was 
the most conspicuous. He was universally admired and 
applauded, and Moufette, who hitherto had been only in 
the company of dragons and serpents, did not withhold her 
share of praise. No day passed but Prince Moufy showed 
her some fresh attention, in the hope of pleasing her, for he 
loved her deeply; and having offered himself as a suitor, he 
made known to the King and Queen that his principality 
was of great beauty and extent. 

The King replied that Moufette was at liberty to choose 
a husband, and that he only wished to please her and make 
her happy. The Prince was delighted with this answer, and 
having already become aware that he was not indifferent to 
[ 126 ] 


THE BENEVOLENT FROG 


the Princess, offered her his hand. She assured him that if 
he was not her husband, no other man should be, and Moufy, 
overcome with joy, threw himself at her feet, and in affec¬ 
tionate terms begged her to remember the promise she had 
given him. The Prince and Princess were betrothed, and 
Prince Moufy then returned to his principality to make prepa¬ 
rations for the marriage. Moufette shed many tears at 
his departure, for she was troubled with a presentiment of 
evil which she could not explain. 

One day, when she was in the Queen’s room, the King 
rushed in, and taking his daughter in his arms: “Alas, my 
child,” he cried. “Alas! wretched father, unhappy King!” 
He could say no more, for his voice was stifled with sobs. 
The Queen and Princess, in great alarm, asked him what 
was the matter, and at last he was able to tell them that a 
giant of an enormous height, who gave himself out to be an 
ambassador from the Dragon of the lake, had just arrived; 
that in accordance with the promise, made by the King in 
return for the help he had received in fighting the monsters, 
the Dragon demanded him to give up the Princess, as he 
wished to devour her for a meal. The King added that he 
had bound himself by solemn oaths to give him what he 
asked, and in those days no one ever broke his word. 

When the Queen heard this dreadful news she uttered 
piercing cries, and clasped her child to her breast. “My life 
shall be taken,” she said, “before my daughter shall be 
delivered up to that monster; let him rather take our kingdom 
and all that we possess. Unnatural father! can you possibly 
consent to such a cruel thing? The thought of it is intolerablef 
[ 127 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 

Send me this terrible ambassador, maybe the sight of my 
anguish may touch his heart.” 

The King made no reply, but went in search of the giant 
and brought him to the Queen, who threw herself at his feet. 
She and her daughter implored him to have mercy upon 
them, and to persuade the Dragon to take everything they 
possessed and to spare Moufette’s life; but the giant replied 
that the matter did not rest with him, and that the Dragon 
was so obstinate and so fond of good things that all the powers 
combined would not prevent him eating whatever he had 
taken into his head he would like for a meal. 

No sooner was the sad news spread through the palace 
than the whole town knew it. Nothing was heard but weeping 
and wailing, for Moufette was greatly beloved. The King 
could not bring himself to give her up, and the giant, who 
had already waited some days, began to grow impatient and 
to utter terrible threats. He now told them that he had 
received a message from his master, and that if the Princess 
would agree to marry a nephew of his the Dragon would let 
her live; that the nephew was young and handsome; that, 
moreover, he was a prince, and that she would be able to 
live with him very happily. This proposal somewhat lessened 
their grief. The Queen spoke to the Princess, but found her 
still more averse to this marriage than to the thought of death. 
“I cannot save my life by being unfaithful,” said Moufette. 
“You promised me to Prince Moufy, and I will marry no 
one else. Let me die; my death will ensure the peace of your 
lives.” The King then came and endeavored with all the 
tenderest of expressions to persuade her; but nothing moved 
[ 128 ] 


THE BENEVOLENT FROG 


her, and finally it was decided that she should be conducted 
to the summit of a mountain, there to await the Dragon. 

Everything was prepared for this great sacrifice, and 
nothing so mournful had before been seen. Four hundred 
maidens of the highest rank, dressed in long white robes 
and crowned with cypress, accompanied the Princess, who 
was carried in an open litter of black velvet, that all might 
look on her. Her hair, tied with crape, hung over her shoul¬ 
ders, and she wore a crown of jasmine, mingled with a few 
marigolds. The grief of the King and Queen, who followed, 
overcome by their deep sorrow, appeared the only thing 
that moved her. The giant, armed from head to foot, marched 
beside the litter, and looked with hungry eye at the Princess, 
as if anticipating his share of her when she came to be eaten. 

“Ah! Frog, Frog,” cried the Queen, “you have indeed 
forsaken me! Alas! why did you give me help in that unhappy 
region, and now withhold it from me! Would that I had then 
died, I should not now be lamenting the loss of all my hopes, 
I should not now have the anguish of seeing my dear Moufette 
on the point of being devoured!” The procession at last 
reached the summit of the fatal mountain. Here the cries 
and lamentations were redoubled. The giant ordered every one 
to say farewell and to retire. 

The King and Queen, and all the Court, now ascended 
another mountain, whence they could see all that happened 
to the Princess; and they had not to wait long before they 
saw a Dragon, half a league long, eoming through the air. 
His body was so heavy that, notwithstanding his six large 
wings, he was hardly able to fly. He was covered with immense 

[ 129 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


blue scales and poisonous tongues of flame. Each of his claws 
was the size of a windmill, and three rows of teeth, as long 
as those of an elephant, could be seen inside his wide-open 
jaw. As the Dragon slowly made his way towards the moun¬ 
tain, the good, faithful Frog, mounted on the back of a hawk, 
flew rapidly to Prince Moufy. She wore her cap of roses, 
and although he was locked in his private room, she entered 
without a key, and said, “What are you doing here, unhappy 
lover? You sit dreaming of Moufette, and at this very moment 
she is exposed to the most frightful danger. Here is a rose- 
leaf: by blowing upon it, I can change it into a superb horse* 
as you will see.” 

There immediately appeared a horse, green in color, and 
with twelve hoofs and three heads, of which one emitted 
fire, another bomb-shells, and the third cannon-balls. She 
gave the Prince a sword, eight yards long, and lighter than 
a feather. She clothed him with a single diamond, which he 
put on like a coat, and which, although as hard as a rock, 
was so pliable that he could move in it at his ease. “Go,” 
she said, “run, fly to the rescue of her whom you love; the 
green horse I have given you will take you to her, and when 
you have delivered her, let her know the share I have had 
in the matter.” 

“Generous fairy,” cried the Prince, “I cannot show you 
all my gratitude; but from henceforth, I am your faithful 
servitor.” 

He mounted the horse with the three heads, which 
instantly galloped off on its twelve hoofs, so that in a very 
little time the Prince reached the mountain, where he found 
[ 130 ] 


THE BENEVOLENT FROG 


his dear Princess all alone, and saw the Dragon slowly drawing 
near. The green horse immediately began to send forth fire, 
bomb-shells, and cannon-balls, which not a little astonished 
the monster. He received twenty balls in his throat, and 
his scales were somewhat damaged, and the bomb-shells put 
out one of his eyes. The Prince’s long sword was so finely- 
tempered that he could use it as he liked, thrusting it in at 
times up to the hilt, and at others using it as a whip. The 
Prince, on his side, would have suffered from the Dragon’s 
claws, had it not been for his diamond coat, which was 
impenetrable. 

Moufette had recognized her lover, for the diamond that 
covered him was transparent and bright, and she was seized 
with mortal terror at the danger he was in. The King and 
Queen, however, were filled with renewed hope; for it was 
such an unexpected thing to see a horse with three heads 
and twelve hoofs, sending forth fire and flame, and a Prince 
in a diamond suit armed with a formidable sword, arrive at 
such an opportune moment, and fight with so much valor. 
The King put his hat on the top of his stick, and the Queen 
tied her handkerchief to the end of another, as signals of 
encouragement to the Prince; and all their Court followed 
suit. And what efforts did he not make! The ground was 
covered with stings, claws, horns, wings, and scales of the 
Dragon. The earth was colored blue and green with the 
mingled blood of the Dragon and the horse. Five times the 
Prince fell to the ground, but each time he rose again and 
leisurely mounted his horse, and then there were cannonades, 
and rushing of flames, and explosions, such as were never 
[ 131 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


heard or seen before. At last the Dragon’s strength gave 
way and he fell. The Prince gave him a final blow, and nobody 
could believe their eyes when from this last great wound 
there stepped forth a handsome and charming prince. He 
rushed, his arms outspread, towards Prince Moufy, and 
embraced him. “What do I not owe you, valiant liberator?” 
he cried. “You have delivered me from a worse prison than 
ever before enclosed a king; I have languished there for 
sixteen years. The Fairy Lioness condemned me to it; and 
such was her power that she would have forced me, against 
my will, to devour that adorable Princess. Lead me to her 
feet that I may explain to her my misfortune.” 

Prince Moufy, surprised and delighted at this extraor¬ 
dinary termination to his adventure, showered civilities on 
the newly-found Prince. They hastened to rejoin Moufette, 
who thanked Heaven a thousand times for her unhoped-for 
happiness. The King, the Queen, and all the Court were 
already with her. Everybody spoke at once. Nobody listened 
to anybody else, and they all shed nearly as many tears of 
joy as they had before of grief. Finally, that nothing might 
be wanting to complete their rejoicing, the good Frog appeared 
flying through the air on her hawk, which had little bells of 
gold on its feet. When the tinkle, tinkle, of these was heard, 
every one looked up, and saw the cap of roses shining like 
the sun, and the Frog as beautiful as the dawn. 

The Queen ran towards her, and took her by one of her 
little paws, and in the same moment the wise Frog became 
a great Queen, with a charming countenance. “I come,’’ 
she cried, “to crown the faithful Moufette, who preferred to 
[ 132 ] 


THE BENEVOLENT FROG 


risk her life rather than be untrue to Prince Moufy.” She 
thereupon took two myrtle wreaths and placed them on the 
heads of the lovers. 

They all wended their way back to the town, singing 
wedding songs, as gaily as they had before mournfully bewailed 
the sacrifice of the Princess. The marriage took place the 
following day, and the joy with which it was celebrated may 
be imagined. 


[ 133 ] 


PRINCESS ROSETTE 


O NCE upon a time there lived a King and Queen who 
had two handsome boys; so well-fed and hearty 
were they that they grew like the day. 

Whenever the Queen had a child, she sent for the fairies, 
that she might learn from them what would be its future lot. 
After a while she had a little daughter, who was so beautiful 
that no one could see her without loving her. The fairies 
came as usual, and the Queen having feasted them, said to 
them as they were going away, “Do not forget that good 
custom of yours, but tell me what will happen to Rosette” 
— for this was the name of the little Princess. The fairies 
answered her that they had left their divining-books at home, 
and that they would come again to see her. “Ah!” said the 
Queen, “that bodes no good, I fear; you do not wish to distress 
me by foretelling evil; but, I pray you, let me know the worst, 
and hide nothing from me.” The fairies continued to make 
excuses, but the Queen only became more anxious to know 
the truth. At last the chief among them said to her, “We 
fear, madam, that Rosette will be the cause of a great mis¬ 
fortune befalling her brothers; that they may even lose their 
lives on her account. This is all that we can tell you of the 
fate of this sweet little Princess, and we are grieved to have 
nothing better to say about her.” The Queen was so sorrowful 
that the King saw by her face that she was in trouble. He 
asked her what was the matter. She told him she had gone 
[ 134 ] 


PRINCESS ROSETTE 


too near the fire and accidentally burnt all the flax that was 
on her distaff. “Is that all?” replied the King, and he went 
up to his storeroom and brought her down more flax than 
she could spin in a hundred years. 

But the Queen was still very sorrowful, and the King 
again asked her what was the matter. She told him that 
she had been down to the river and had let one of her green 
satin slippers fall into the water. “Is that all?” replied the 
King, and he sent for all the shoemakers in the kingdom and 
made the Queen a present of ten thousand green satin slippers. 

Still the Queen was no less sorrowful. The King asked 
her once more what was the matter. She told him that, being 
hungry, she had eaten hastily, and had swallowed her wedding- 
ring. The King knew that she was not speaking the truth, 
for he had himself put away the ring, and he replied, “My 
dear wife, you are not speaking the truth; here is your ring, 
which I have kept in my purse.” The Queen w^as put out of 
countenance at being caught telling a lie — for there is 
nothing in the world so ugly — and she saw that the King 
was vexed, so she told him what the fairies had predicted 
about little Rosette, and begged him to tell her if he could 
think of any remedy. The King was greatly troubled, so 
much so, that at last he said to the Queen, “I see no way of 
saving our two boys, except by putting the little girl to death, 
while she is still in her swaddling clothes.” But the Queen 
cried that she would rather suffer death herself, that she would 
never consent to so cruel a deed, and that the King must try 
and think of some other remedy. The King and Queen could 
think of nothing else, and while thus pondering over the 

[ 135 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


matter, the Queen was told that in a large wood near the 
town there lived an old hermit, who made his home in the 
trunk of a tree, whom people went from far and near to 
consult. 

“It is to him I must go,” said the Queen; “the fairies 
told me the evil, but they forgot to tell me the remedy.” 

She started early in the morning, mounted on her little 
white mule, that was shod with gold, and accompanied by 
two of her maids of honor, who each rode a pretty horse. 
When they were near the wood they dismounted out of 
respect, and made their way to the tree where the hermit 
lived. He did not much care for the visits of women, but 
when he saw that it was the Queen approaching, he said, 
“Welcome! what would you ask of me?” She related to him 
what the fairies had said about Rosette, and asked him to 
advise her what to do. He told her that the Princess must 
be shut up in a tower and not be allowed to leave it as long 
as she lived. The Queen thanked him and returned and told 
everything to the King. The King immediately gave orders 
for a large tower to be built as quickly as possible. In it he 
placed his daughter, but that she might not feel lonely and 
depressed, he, and the Queen, and her two brothers, went 
to see her every day. The elder of these was called the big 
Prince, and the younger, the little Prince. They loved their 
sister passionately, for she was the most beautiful and graceful 
Princess ever seen. When she was fifteen years old, the big 
Prince said to the King, “Father, my sister is old enough 
to be married; shall we not soon have a wedding?” The little 
Prince said the same to the Queen, but their Majesties laughed 
[ 136 ] 


PRINCESS ROSETTE 

and changed the subject, and made no answer about the 
marriage. 

Now it happened that the King and Queen both fell very 
ill and died within a few days of one another. There was 
great mourning; every one wore black, and all the bells were 
tolled. Rosette was inconsolable at the loss of her good 
mother. 

As soon as the funeral was over, the dukes and marquises 
of the kingdom placed the big Prince on a throne made of 
gold and diamonds; he wore a splendid crown on his head, 
and robes of violet velvet embroidered with suns and moons. 
Then the whole Court cried out, “Long live the King!” and 
now on all sides there was nothing but rejoicing. 

Then the young King and his brother said one to another, 
“Now that we are the masters, we will release our sister 
from the tower, where she has been shut up for such a long 
and dreary time.” They had only to pass through the garden 
to reach the tower, which stood in one corner of it, and had 
been built as high as was possible, for the late King and 
Queen had intended her to remain there always. Rosette 
was embroidering a beautiful dress on a frame in front of 
her, when she saw her brothers enter. She rose, and taking 
the King’s hand, said, “Good-day, sire, you are now King, 
and I am your humble subject; I pray you to release me from 
this tower, where I lead a melancholy life,” and with this, she 
burst into tears. The King embraced her, and begged her 
not to weep, for he was come, he said, to take her from the 
tower, and to conduct her to a beautiful castle. The Prince 
had his pockets full of sweetmeats, which he gave Rosette. 

[ 137 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


“Come,” lie said, “let us get away from this wTetched place; 
the King will soon find you a husband; do not be unhappy 
any longer.” 

When Rosette saw the beautiful garden, full of flowers, 
and fruits, and fountains, she was overcome with astonish¬ 
ment, for she had never seen anything of the kind before. 
She looked around her, she went first here, then there, she 
picked the fruit off the trees, and gathered flowers from the 
beds; while her little dog, Fretillon, who was as green as a 
parrot, kept on running before her, saying yap, yap, yap! 
and jumping and cutting a thousand capers, and everybody 
was amused at his ways. Presently he ran into a little wood, 
whither the Princess followed him, and here her wonder was 
even greater than before, when she saw a large peacock 
spreading out its tail. She thought it so beautiful that she 
could not take her eyes off it. The King and the Prince now 
joined her, and asked her what delighted her so much. She 
pointed to the peacock, and asked them what it was. They 
told her it was a bird, which was sometimes eaten. “What!” 
she cried, “dare to kill and eat a beautiful bird like that! 
I tell you, that I will marry no one but the King of the Peacocks, 
and when I am their Queen I shall not allow anybody to eat 
them.” 

The astonishment of the King cannot be described. “But, 
dear sister,” said he, “where would you have us go to find 
the King of the Peacocks?” 

“Whither you please, sire; but him, and him alone, will 
I marry.” 

Having come to this decision, she was now conducted by 
[ 138 ] 


PRINCESS ROSETTE 


her br thers to their castle; the peacock had to be brought 
and put into her room, so fond was she of it. All the Court 
ladies who had not before seen Rosette now hastened to greet 
her and pay their respects to her. Some brought preserves 
with them, some sugar, and others dresses of woven gold, 
beautiful ribbons, dolls, embroidered shoes, pearls, and 
diamonds. Every one did their best to entertain her, and 
she was so well brought up, so courteous, kissing their hands, 
curtseying when anything beautiful was given to her, that 
there was not a lord or lady who did not leave her presence 
gratified and charmed. 

While she was thus occupied, the King and the Prince 
were turning over in their minds how they should find the 
King of the Peacocks, if there was such a person in the world 
to be found. They decided that they would have Rosette’s 
portrait painted; and when this was done it was so life-like 
that only speech was wanting. Then they said to her, “Since 
you will marry no one but the King of the Peacocks, we are 
going together to look for him, and will traverse the whole 
world to try and find him for you. If we find him, we shall 
be very glad. Meanwhile take care of our kingdom until 
we return.” 

So the two Princes started on their long journey, and 
they asked every one whom they met, “Do you know the 
King of the Peacocks?” but the reply was always the same, 
“No, we do not.” Each time they passed on and went farther, 
and in this way they travelled so very, very far, that no one 
had ever been so far before. 

They came to the kingdom of the cock-chafers; and these 
[ 139 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


were in such numbers, and made such a loud buzzing, that 
the Xing feared he should become deaf. He asked one of 
them, who appeared to him to have the most intelligence, 
whether he knew where the King of the Peacocks was to be 
found. “Sire,” replied the cock-chafer, “his kingdom lies 
thirty thousand leagues from here; you have chosen the 
longest way to reach it.” “And how do you know that?” 
asked the King. “Because,” answered the cock-chafer, “we 
know you very well, for every year we spend two or three 
months in your gardens.” Whereupon the King and his 
brother embraced the cock-chafer, and they went off arm in 
arm to dine together, and the two strangers admired all the 
curiosities of that new country, where the smallest leaf of a 
tree was worth a gold piece. After that, they continued their 
journey, and having been directed along the right way, 
they were not long in reaching its close. On their arrival, 
they found all the trees laden with peacocks, and, indeed, 
there were peacocks everywhere, so that they could be heard 
talking and screaming two leagues off. 

The King said to his brother, “If the King of the Peacocks 
is a peacock himself, how can our sister marry him? it would 
be folly to consent to such a thing, and it would be a fine 
thing for us to have little peacocks for nephews.” 

The Prince was equally disturbed at the thought. “It is 
an unhappy fancy she has taken into her head,” he said. 
“I cannot think what led her to imagine that there was such 
a person in the world as the King of the Peacocks.” 

When they entered the town, they saw that it was full 
of men and women, and that they all wore clothes made of 
[ 140 ] 


PRINCESS ROSETTE 

peacocks’ feathers, and that these were evidently considered 
fine things, for every place was covered with them. They 
met the King, who was driving in a beautiful little carriage 
of gold, studded with diamonds, and drawn by twelve peacocks 
at full gallop. This King of the Peacocks was so handsome 
that the King and Prince were delighted. He had long, light, 
curly hair, fair complexion, and wore a crown of peacocks’ 
feathers. Directly he saw them, he guessed, seeing that they 
wore a different costume to the people of the country, that 
they were strangers, and wishing to ascertain if this was so, 
he ordered his carriage to stop, and sent for them. 

The King and the Prince advanced, bowing low, and 
said, “Sire, we have come from afar, to show you a portrait.” 
They drew forth Rosette’s portrait and showed it to him. 
After gazing at it a while, the King of the Peacocks said, 
“I can scarcely believe that there is so beautiful a maiden 
in the whole world.” “She is a thousand times more beau¬ 
tiful,” said the King. “You are jesting,” replied the King of 
the Peacocks. “Sire,” rejoined the Prince, “here is my 
brother, who is a King, like yourself. He is called King, 
and I am a Prince; our sister, of whom this is the portrait, 
is the Princess Rosette. We have come to ask if you will 
marry her. She is good and beautiful, and we will give her, 
as dower, a bushel of golden crowns.” “It is well,” said the 
King. “I will gladly marry her; she shall want for nothing, 
and I shall love her greatly; but I require that she shall be 
as beautiful as her portrait, and if she is in the smallest degree 
less so, I shall make you pay for it with your lives.” “We 
consent willingly,” said both Rosette’s brothers. “You. 

[ 141 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


consent?” added the King. “You will go to prison then, 
and remain there until the Princess arrives.” The Princes 
made no difficulty about this, for they knew well that Rosette 
was more beautiful than her portrait. They were well looked 
after while in prison, and were well served with all they 
required, and the King often went to see them. He kept 
Rosette’s portrait in his room, and could scarcely rest day 
or night for looking at it. As the King and his brother could 
not go to her themselves, they wrote to Rosette, telling her 
to pack up as quickly as possible, and to start without delay, 
as the King of the Peacocks was awaiting her. They did 
not tell her that they were prisoners, for fear of causing her 
uneasiness. 

The Princess scarcely knew how to contain herself with 
joy when she received this message. She told everybody 
that the King of the Peacocks had been found, and that he 
wanted to marry her. Bonfires were lit and guns fired. After 
having dispensed hospitality to her visitors, she presented 
her beautiful dolls to her best friends, and handed over the 
government to the wisest elders of the town. She prayed 
them to take care of her peacock, for with her she only took 
her nurse, her foster sister, and her little green dog, Fretillon. 
They set out in a boat on the sea, carrying with them the 
bushel of golden crowns and sufficient clothes for two changes 
a day for ten years. They made merry on their voyage, 
laughing and singing, and the nurse kept on asking the boat¬ 
man if they were nearing the Kingdom of the Peacocks; for a 
long time, all he said was, “No, no, not yet.” Then at last, 
when she asked again, “Are we anywhere near it now?” he 
[ 142 ] 


PRINCESS ROSETTE 


answered, “We shall soon be there, very soon.” Once more 
she said, “Are we near, are we anywhere near it now?” and 
he said, “Yes, we are now within reach of shore.” 

On hearing this the nurse went to the end of the boat, 
and sitting down beside the boatman, said to him, “If you 
like, you can be rich for the remainder of your life.” He 
replied, “I should like nothing better.” She continued, “If 
you like, you can earn good money.” “That would suit me 
very well,” he answered. “Well,” she went on, “then tonight, 
when the Princess is asleep, you must help me throw her into 
the sea. After she is drowned, I will dress my daughter in 
her fine clothes, and we will take her to the King of the 
Peacocks, who will only be too pleased to marry her; and 
as a reward to you, we will give you as many diamonds as 
you care to possess.” The boatman was very much astonished 
at this proposal. He told the nurse that it was a pity to drown 
such a pretty Princess, and that he felt compassion for her; 
but the nurse fetched a bottle of wine and made him drink 
so much that he had no longer any power to refuse. 

Night having come, the Princess went to bed as usual, 
her little Fretillon lying at her feet, not even stirring one of 
his paws. Rosette slept soundly, but the wicked nurse kept 
awake, and went presently to fetch the boatman. She took 
him into the Princess’s room, and together they lifted her 
up, feather bed, mattress, sheets, coverlets, and all, and 
threw them into the sea; the Princess all the while so fast 
asleep that she never woke. But fortunately her bed was 
made of Phoenix-feathers, which are extremely rare and have 
the property of always floating on water, so that she was 
[ 143 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


carried along in her bed as in a boat. The water began grad¬ 
ually first to wet her feather bed, then her mattress, and 
Rosette began to feel uncomfortable, and turned from side 
to side, and then Fretillon woke up. He had a capital nose, 
and when he smelled the soles and codfish so near, he started 
barking at them, and this awoke all the other fish, w T ho began 
swimming about. The bigger ones ran against the Princess’s 
bed, which, not being attached to anything, span round and 
round like a whirligig. Rosette could not make out wdiat was 
happening. “Is our boat having a dance on the w T ater?” 
she said. “I am not accustomed to feeling so uneasy as I am 
to-night,” and all the while Fretillon continued barking, and 
going on as if he was out of his mind. The wicked nurse and 
the boatman heard him from afar, and said: “There’s that 
funny little beast drinking our healths with his mistress. 
Let us make haste to land,” for they were now just opposite 
the town of the King of the Peacocks. 

He had sent dowm to the landing-place a hundred chariots 
drawm by all kinds of rare animals, the chariot which was 
intended for the Princess being harnessed with six blue 
monkeys. They had beautiful trappings of crimson velvet, 
overlaid with plates of gold. Sixty young maids of honor 
were also in attendance, who had been chosen by the King 
for the amusement of the Princess. 

The nurse had taken great pains to dress her daughter 
finely. She had put on her Rosette’s best robe, and decked 
her all over from head to foot with the Princess’s diamonds; 
but with all this, she was still as ugly as an ape, with greasy 
black hair, crooked eyes, bowed legs, and a hump on her 
[ 144 ] 


PRINCESS ROSETTE 


back; and, added to these deformities, she was besides of a 
disagreeable and sulky temper, and was always grumbling. 

When people saw her get out of the boat, they were so 
taken aback by her appearance that they could not utter a 
sound. “What is the meaning of this?” she said. “Are you 
all asleep? Be off, and bring me something to eat! A nice 
set of beggars you are! I will have you all hanged.” Wlien 
they heard this, they murmured, “What an ugly creature! 
and she is as wicked as she is ugly! A nice wife for our King; 
well, we are not surprised! but it was scarcely worth the 
trouble to bring her from the other side of the world.” Mean¬ 
while she still behaved as if she were already mistress of all 
and everything, and for no reason at all boxed their ears or 
gave a blow with her fist to everybody in turn. 

As her escort was a very large one, the procession moved 
slowly, and she sat up in her chariot like a queen; but all 
the peacocks, who had stationed themselves on the trees, 
so as to salute her as she passed, and who had been prepared 
to shout, “Long live the beautiful Queen Rosette!” could 
only call out, “Fie, fie, how ugly she is!” as soon as they 
caught sight of her. She was so enraged at this that she 
called to her guards, “Kill those rascally peacocks who are 
insulting me.” But the peacocks quickly flew away and 
only laughed at her. 

The treacherous boatman, seeing and hearing all this, 
said in a low voice to the nurse, “There is something wrong, 
good mother; your daughter should have been better looking.” 
She answered, “Hold your tongue, stupid, or you will bring 
us into trouble.” 


[ 145 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


The King had word brought him that the Princess was 
approaching. “Well,” he said, “have her brothers, I wonder, 
told me the truth? Is she more beautiful than her portrait?” 
“Sire,” said those near him, “there will be nothing to wish 
for if she is as beautiful.” “You are right,” replied the King, 
“I shall be well content with that. Come, let us go and see 
her,” for he knew by the hubbub in the courtyard that she 
had arrived. He could not distinguish anything that was 
said, except, “Fie, fie, how ugly she is!” and he imagined 
that the people were calling out about some little dwarf or 
animal that she had brought with her, for it never entered 
his head that the words were applied to the Princess herself. 

Rosette’s portrait was carried uncovered at the top of a 
long pole, and the King walked after it in solemn state, with 
all his nobles and his peacocks, followed by ambassadors 
from various kingdoms. The King of the Peacocks was very 
impatient to see his dear Rosette; but when he did see her 
he very nearly died on the spot. He flew into a violent rage, 
he tore his clothes, he would not go near her, he felt quite 
afraid of her. “What!” he cried, “have those two villains 
I have in prison had the boldness and impudence to make a 
laughing-stock of me, and to propose my marrying such a 
fright as that? They shall both be killed; and let that insolent 
woman, and the nurse, and the man who is with them, be 
immediately carried to the dungeon of my great tower and 
there kept.” 

While this was going on, the King and his brother, who 
knew that their sister was expected, had put on their bravest 
apparel ready to receive her; but instead of seeing their prison 
[ 146 ] 


PRINCESS ROSETTE 


door open and being set at liberty, as they had hoped, the 
gaoler came with a body of soldiers and made them go down 
into a dark cellar, full of horrible reptiles, and where the 
water was up to their necks; no one w T as ever more surprised 
or distressed than they were. “Alas!” they said to one another, 
“this is indeed a melancholy marriage feast for us! What 
can have happened that we should be so ill-treated?” Three 
days passed, and no news reached them of any kind. At the 
end of that time, the King of the Peacocks came, and began 
calling out insulting things to them through a hole in the wall. 
“You called yourselves King and Prince, that I might fall 
into your trap and engage myself to marry your sister; but 
you are nothing better than two beggars, who are not worth 
the water you drink. I am going to bring you before the 
judges, who will soon pass their verdict upon you; the rope 
to hang you’ with is already being made.” “King of the 
Peacocks,” replied the King, angrily, “do not act too rashly 
in this matter, or you may repent it. I am a king as well as 
you, and I have a fine kingdom, and rich clothing, and crowns, 
to say nothing of good gold pieces. You must be joking to 
talk like this of hanging us; have we stolen anything from 
you?” 

When the King heard him speak so boldly, he did not 
know what to think, and he felt half inclined to let them and 
their sister go without putting them to death; but his chief 
adviser, who w^as an arrant flatterer, dissuaded him from this, 
telling him that if he did not revenge the insult that had 
been put upon him, all the w r orld would make fun of him, 
and look upon him as nothing better than a miserable little 
[ 147 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


king worth a few coppers a day. The King thereupon swore 
that he would never forgive them, and ordered them to be 
brought to trial at once. This did not take long; the judges 
had only to look at the real Rosette’s portrait and then at 
the Princess who had arrived, and, without hesitation, they 
ordered the prisoners’ heads to be cut off as a punishment for 
having lied to the King, since they had promised him a beau* 
tiful Princess and had only given him an ugly peasant girl. 
They repaired with great ceremony to the prison to read this 
sentence to them. But the prisoners declared that they had 
not lied, that their sister was a Princess, and more beautiful 
than the day; that there must be something under this which 
they did not understand, and they asked for a respite of seven 
days, as before that time had expired their innocence might 
have been established. The King of the Peacocks, who had 
worked himself up to a high pitch of anger, could with great 
difficulty be induced to accord them this grace, but at last 
he consented. 

While these things were going on at the Court, we must 
say something about poor Rosette. Both she and Fretillon 
were very much astonished, when daylight came, to find 
themselves in the middle of the sea, without a boat, and far 
from all help. She began to cry, and cried so piteously that 
even the fishes had compassion on her; she did not know 
what to do, nor what would become of her. “There is no 
doubt,” she said, “that the King of the Peacocks ordered 
me to be thrown into the sea, having repented his promise 
of marrying me, and to get rid of me quietly he has had me 
drowned. What a strange man!” she continued, “for I should 
[ 148 ] 


PRINCESS ROSETTE 

have loved him so much! We should have been so happy 
together,” and with that she burst out crying afresh, for 
she could not help still loving him. She remained floating 
about on the sea for two days, wet to the skin, and almost 
dead with cold. She was so benumbed by it that if it had 
not been for little Fretillon, who lay beside her and kept a 
little warmth in her, she could not have survived. She was 
famished with hunger, and seeing the oysters in their shells, 
she took as many of these as she wanted and ate them. 
Fretillon did the same, to keep himself alive, although he 
did not like such food. Rosette became still more alarmed 
when the night set in. “Fretillon,” she said, “keep on barking 
to frighten away the soles, for fear they should eat us.” So 
Fretillon barked all night, and when the morning came the 
Princess was floating near the shore. Close to the sea at this 
spot there lived a good old man. He was poor and did not 
care for the things of the world, and no one ever visited him 
in his little hut. He was very much surprised when he heard 
Fretillon barking, for no dogs ever came in that direction. 
He thought some travellers must have lost their w^ay, and 
went out with the kind intention of putting them on the 
right road again. All at once he caught sight of the Princess 
and Fretillon floating on the sea, and the Princess, seeing 
him, stretched out her arms to him, crying out, “Good man, 
save me, or I shall perish; I have been in the water like this 
for two days.” When he heard her speak so sorrowfully, he 
had great pity on her, and went back into his hut to fetch a 
long hook. He waded into the water up to his neck, and once 
or twice narrowly escaped drowning. At last, however, he 

[ 149 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


succeeded in dragging the bed on to the shore. Rosette and 
Fretillon were overjoyed to find themselves again on dry 
ground; and were full of gratitude to the kind old man. 
Rosette wrapped herself in her coverlet and walked bare¬ 
footed into the hut, where the old man lit a little fire of dry 
straw, and took one of his dead wife’s best dresses out of a 
trunk, with some stockings and shoes, and gave them to the 
Princess. Dressed in her peasant’s attire, she looked as beau¬ 
tiful as the day, and Fretillon capered round her and made 
her laugh. The old man guessed that Rosette was some 
great lady, for her bed was embroidered with gold and silver 
and her mattress was of satin. He begged her to tell him 
her story, promising not to repeat what she told him if she 
so wished. So she related to him all that had befallen her, 
crying bitterly the while, for she still thought that it was the 
King of the Peacocks who had ordered her to be drowned. 

“What shall we do, my daughter?” said the old man. 
“You are a Princess and accustomed to the best of every¬ 
thing, and I have but poor fare to offer, black bread and 
radishes; but if you will let me, I will go and tell the King of 
the Peacocks that you are here; if he had once seen you, he 
would assuredly marry you.” “Alas! he is a wicked man,” 
said Rosette; “he would only put me to death; but if you 
can lend me a little basket, I will tie it round Fretillon’s neck, 
and he will have very bad luck if he does not manage to bring 
back some food.” 

The old man gave her a basket, which she fastened to 
Fretillon’s neck, and then said, “Go to the best kitchen in 
the town, and bring me back what you find in the saucepan.” 

[ 150 ] 


PRINCESS ROSETTE 


Fretillon ran off to the town, and as there was no better 
kitchen than that of the King, he went in, uncovered the 
saucepan, and cleverly carried off all that was in it; then he 
returned to the hut. Rosette said to him, “Go back and 
take whatever you can find of the best in the larder.” Fretillon 
went back to the King’s larder, and took white bread, wine, 
and all sorts of fruits and sweetmeats. He was so laden that 
he could only just manage to carry the things home. 

When the King of the Peacocks’ dinner hour arrived, 
there was nothing for him either in the saucepan or in the 
larder. His attendants looked askance at one another, and 
the King was in a terrible rage. “It seems, then, that I am 
to have no dinner; but see that the spit is put before the fire, 
and let me have some good roast meat this evening.” The 
evening came, and the Princess said to Fretillon, “Go to the 
best kitchen in the town and bring me a joint of good roast 
meat.” Fretillon obeyed, and knowing no better kitchen 
than that of the King, he went softly in, while the cooks’ 
backs were turned, took the meat, which was of the best kind, 
from the spit, and carried it back in his basket to the Princess. 
She sent him back without delay to the larder, and he carried 
off all the preserves and sweetmeats that had been prepared 
for the King. 

The King, having had no dinner, was very hungry, and 
ordered supper to be served early, but no supper was forth¬ 
coming; enraged beyond words, he was forced to go supperless 
to bed. 

The same thing happened the following day, both as to 
dinner and supper; so that the King, for three days, was 
[ 151 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


without meat or drink, for every time he sat down to table, 
it was found that the meal that had been prepared had been 
stolen. His chief adviser, fearing for the life of the King, 
hid himself in the corner of the kitchen to watch. He kept 
his eyes on the saucepan, that was boiling over the fire, and 
what was his surprise to see enter a little green dog, that 
uncovered the pot and put the meat in its basket. He followed 
it to see where it would go; he saw it leave the town, and still 
following, came to the old man’s hut. Then he went and 
told the King that it was to a poor peasant’s home that the 
food was carried morning and evening. The King was greatly 
astonished, and ordered more inquiries to be made. His chief 
adviser, anxious for favor, decided to go himself, taking with 
him a body of archers. They found the old man and Rosette 
at dinner, eating the meat that had been stolen from the 
King’s kitchen, and they seized them, and bound them with 
cords, taking Fretillon prisoner at the same time. 

They brought word to the King that the thieves had been 
captured, and he replied, “ Tomorrow the last day of reprieve 
for my two insolent prisoners will expire; they and these 
shall die together.” He then went into his court of justice. 
The old man threw himself on his knees before him, and 
begged to be allowed to tell him everything. As he was 
speaking, the King looked towards the beautiful Princess, 
and his heart was touched when he saw her crying. When, 
therefore, the old man said that she was the Princess Rosette 
who had been thrown into the water, he gave three bounds 
of joy, ran and embraced her, and untied her cords, declaring 
the while that he loved her with all his heart. 

[ 152 ] 


PRINCESS ROSETTE 


They at once went to find the Princes, who thought they 
were going to be put to death, and came forward in great 
dejection and hanging their heads; the nurse and her daughter 
being brought in at the same time. The brothers and sister 
recognized one another as soon as they were brought face to 
face, and Rosette threw herself on her brothers’ necks. The 
nurse and her daughter, and the boatman, begged on their 
knees for mercy, and the universal rejoicing and their own 
joy were so great that the King and the Princess pardoned 
them, and gave the good old man a handsome reward, and 
from that time he continued to live in the palace. 

Finally, the King of the Peacocks did all in his power to 
atone for his conduct to the King and his brother, expressing 
the deepest regret at having treated them so badly. The 
nurse restored to Rosette all her beautiful clothes and the 
bushel of golden crowns; and the wedding festivities lasted 
a fortnight. Every one was happy, down to Fretillon, who 
ate nothing but partridge wings for the rest of his life. 


[ 153 ] 


THE FAIR WITH GOLDEN HAIR 


O NCE upon a time there was a king’s daughter who 
was so handsome there was nothing in the world to 
be compared with her for beauty, and she was called 
the Fair with Golden Hair, because her locks were like the 
finest gold, marvellously bright, and falling all in ringlets to 
her feet. She always appeared with her hair flowing in curls 
about her, crowned with flowers, and her dresses embroidered 
with diamonds and pearls. However it might be, it was 
impossible to see her without loving her. There was a young 
king amongst her neighbors, who was unmarried, very hand¬ 
some, and very rich. When he heard all that was said about 
the Fair with Golden Hair, although he had never seen her, 
he fell so deeply in love with her that he could neither eat 
nor drink, and therefore resolved to send an ambassador to 
ask her hand in marriage. He had a magnificent coach made 
for this ambassador, ;gave him upwards of a hundred horses 
and as many servants, and charged him particularly not to 
return without the princess. From the moment that the 
envoy had taken leave of the king, the whole court talked of 
nothing else; and the king, who never doubted that the Fair 
with Golden Hair would consent to his proposal, ordered 
immediately fine dresses and splendid furniture to be prepared 
for her. While the workmen were hard at work, the ambassa¬ 
dor arrived at the fair one’s court and delivered his little 
message; but whether she was that day out of temper, or that 
[ 154 ] 


THE FAIR WITH GOLDEN HAIR 


the compliment was not agreeable to her, she answered the 
ambassador, that she thanked the king, but had no inclination 
to marry. The ambassador quitted the court of the princess 
very low-spirited at not being able to bring her with him. He 
carried back all the presents he had been the bearer of from 
the king, for the princess was very prudent, and was perfectly 
aware that young ladies should never receive gifts from 
bachelors; so she declined accepting the beautiful diamonds 
and the other valuable articles, and only retained, in order not 
to affront the king, a quarter of a pound of English pins. 

When the ambassador reached the capital city of the king, 
where he was so impatiently awaited, everybody was afflicted 
that he did not bring back with him the Fair with Golden 
Hair, and the king began to cry like a child. They endeavored 
to console him, but without the least success. 

There was a youth at court who was as beautiful as the 
sun, and had the finest figure in the kingdom. On account of 
his graceful manners and his intelligence he was called Avenant. 
Everybody loved him, except the envious, who were vexed 
that the king conferred favors upon him, and daily confided 
to him his affairs. 

Avenant was in company with some persons who were 
talking of the return of the ambassador, and saying he had 
done no good. “If the king had sent me to the Fair with 
Golden Hair,” said he to them carelessly, “I am certain she 
would have returned with me.” These mischief-makers went 
immediately to the king, and said, “Sire, you know not what 
Avenant asserts — that if you had sent him to the Fair with 
Golden Hair he would have brought her back with him. 

[ 155 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


Observe his malice! He pretends that he is handsomer than 
you, and that she would have been so fond of him that she 
would have followed him anywhere.” 

At this the king flew into a rage — a rage so terrible, that 
he was quite beside himself. “Ha, ha!” he cried, “this petty 
minion laughs at my misfortune, and values himself above 
me! Go! Fling him into the great tower, and let him starve 
to death!” 

The royal guards hastened in search of Avenant, who had 
quite forgotten what he had said. They dragged him to 
prison, inflicting a thousand injuries upon him. The poor 
youth had only a little straw to lie upon, and would soon have 
perished but for a tiny spring that trickled through the foun¬ 
dations of the tower, and of which he drank a few drops to 
refresh himself, his mouth being parched with thirst. One 
day, when he was quite exhausted, he exclaimed, with a 
heavy sigh: “What does the king complain of? He has not a 
subject more loyal than I am; I have never done anything to 
offend him!” The king by chance passed close by the tower, 
and hearing the voice of one he had loved so dearly, he stopped 
to listen, notwithstanding those who were with him, who 
hated Avenant, and said to the king, “What interests you, 
sire? Do you not know he is a rogue?” The king replied: 
“Leave me alone; I would hear what he has to say.” Having 
listened to his complaints, the tears stood in his eyes: he 
opened the door of the tower and called to the prisoner. 
Avenant came, and knelt before him in deep sorrow, and kissed 
his feet. “What have I done, sire, that I am thus severely 
treated?” “Thou hast made game of me, and of my ambassa- 
[ 156 ] 


THE FAIR WITH GOLDEN HAIR 


dor,” answered the king. “Thou hast boasted that if I had 
sent thee to the Fair with Golden Hair thou wouldst certainly 
have brought her back with thee.” 

“It is true, sire,” rejoined Avenant, “that I should have 
so impressed her with the sense of your majesty’s high quali¬ 
ties that I feel persuaded she could not have refused you; 
and in saying that, sire, I uttered nothing that could be 
disagreeable to you.” The king saw clearly that Avenant 
was innocent. He cast an angry look upon the traducers of 
his favourite, and brought him away with him, sincerely repent¬ 
ing the wrong he had done to him. After giving him an excel¬ 
lent supper he called him into his cabinet and said to him: 
“Avenant, I still love the Fair with Golden Hair; her refusal 
has not discouraged me: but I know not what course to take 
to induce her to marry me. I am tempted to send thee to her 
to see if thou couldst succeed. ” Avenant replied that he was 
ready to obey him in everything, and that he would set out 
the next day. “Hold,” said the king; “I would give thee a 
splendid equipage.” “It is unnecessary,” answered Avenant; 
“I need only a good horse, and letters of credence from your 
majesty.” The king embraced him, for he was delighted to 
find him prepared to start so quickly. 

It was on a Monday morning that he took leave of the 
king and of his friends to proceed on his embassy, quite alone 
and without pomp or noise. His mind was occupied solely 
with schemes to induce the Fair with Golden Hair to marry 
the king. He had a writing-case in his pocket, and when a 
happy idea occurred to him for his introductory address, he 
alighted from his steed and seated himself under the trees to 
[ 157 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


commit it to paper, so that he might not forget anything. 
One morning that he had set out at the first peep of day, in 
passing through a large meadow, a charming idea came into 
his head: he dismounted, and seated himself beside some 
willows and poplars which w T ere planted along the bank of a 
little river that ran by the edge of the meadow. After he had 
made his note, he looked about him, delighted to find himself 
in so beautiful a spot. He perceived on the grass a large gilded 
carp gasping and nearly exhausted, for in trying to catch 
some little flies it had leaped so far out of the water that it 
had fallen on the grass, and was all but dead. Avenant took 
pity upon it, and, although it was a fast-day, and he might 
have carried it off for his dinner, he picked it up and put it 
gently back into the river. As soon as my friend the carp felt 
the freshness of the water, she began to recover herself, and 
glided down to the very bottom, then rising again joyously 
to the bank of the stream. “Avenant,” said she, “I thank 
you for the kindness you have done me; but for you I should 
have died. You have saved me; I will do as much for you.” 
After this little compliment she darted down again into the 
water, leaving Avenant much surprised at her intelligence and 
great civility. 

Another day, as he continued his journey, he saw a crow 
in great distress. The poor bird was pursued by a large eagle 
(a great devourer of crows), which had nearly caught it, and 
would have swallowed it like a lentil if Avenant had not felt 
compassion for its misfortune. “Thus,” he cried, “do the 
strong oppress the weak. What right has the eagle to eat the 
crow?” He seized his bow and arrow, which he always 
[ 158 ] 


THE FAIR WITH GOLDEN HAIR 


carried with him, and taking a good aim at the eagle, whizz! 
he sent the shaft right through its body; it fell dead, and the 
crow, enraptured, came and perched on a tree. “Avenant,” 
it cried to him, “it was very generous of you thus to succor 
me, I who am only a poor crow; but I will not be ungrateful, 
I will do as much for you. ” 

Avenant admired the good sense of the crow, and resumed 
his journey. Entering a great wood so early in the morning 
that there was scarcely light enough for him to see his road, 
he heard an owl screeching like an owl in despair. “Hey¬ 
day!” said he, “here’s an owl in great affliction. It has been 
caught, perhaps, in some net.” He searched on all sides, and 
at last discovered some large nets, which had been spread 
by fowlers during the night to catch small birds. “What a 
pity,” said he, “that men are only made to torment each 
other, or to persecute poor animals which do them no wrong 
or mischief. ” He drew his knife and cut the cords. The owl 
took flight: but returning swiftly on the wing, “Avenant,” 
it cried, “it is needless for me to make a long speech to enable 
you to comprehend the obligation I am under to you: it 
speaks plainly enough for itself. The hunters would soon 
have been here. I had been taken, I had been dead, but for 
your assistance. I have a grateful heart; I will do as much 
for you.” 

These were the three most important adventures which 
befell Avenant on his journey. He was so eager to reach the 
end of it that he lost no time in repairing to the palace of 
the Fair with Golden Hair. Everything about it was admirable. 
There were diamonds to be seen in heaps, as though they 
[ 159 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


were pebbles. Fine clothes, sweetmeats, money — the most 
wonderful sight that ever was seen; and Avenant thought in 
his heart, if he could persuade the princess to leave all this 
to go to the king his master, he should be very lucky indeed. 
He dressed himself in a suit of brocade, with a plume of 
carnation and white feathers; combed and powdered himself, 
washed his face, put a richly embroidered scarf round his 
neck, with a little basket, and in it a beautiful little dog which 
he had bought as he came through Bologna. Avenant was 
so handsome, so amiable, and did everything with so much 
grace, that w T hen he presented himself at the palace gate, the 
guards saluted him most respectfully, and they ran to inform 
the Fair with Golden Hair that Avenant, ambassador from 
the king, her nearest neighbor, requested to be presented to 
her. 

At the name of Avenant, the princess said, “That betokens 
something agreeable to me. I would wager he is a pretty 
fellow, and pleases everybody.” “Yes, in sooth, madam,” 
exclaimed all her maids of honor; “we saw him from the loft 
in which we were dressing your flax, and as long as he remained 
under the windows we could do no work.” “Very pretty,” 
replied the Fair with Golden Hair; “amusing yourselves with 
looking at young men! Here, give me my grand gown of blue 
embroidered satin, and arrange my fair hair very tastefully; 
get me some garlands of fresh flowers, my high-heeled shoes, 
and my fan. Let them sweep my presence chamber, and dust 
my throne; for I would have him declare everywhere that 
I am truly the Fair with Golden Hair. ” 

All her women hastened to attire her like a queen. They 

[ 160 ] 


THE FAIR WITH GOLDEN HAIR 


were in such a hurry that they ran against each other, and 
made scarcely any progress. At length, however, the princess 
passed into the great gallery of mirrors, to see if anything 
was wanting, and then ascended her throne of gold, ivory, 
and ebony, which emitted a perfume like balsam, and com¬ 
manded her maids of honor to take their instruments, and 
sing very softly so as not to confuse any one. 

Avenant was ushered into the hall of audience. He was 
so struck with admiration, that he has since declared fre¬ 
quently that he could scarcely speak; nevertheless, he took 
courage, and delivered his oration to perfection. He beseeched 
the princess that he might not have the mortification of 
returning without her. “Gentle Avenant,” she replied, “the 
arguments you have adduced are all of them exceedingly 
good, and I assure you I should be very happy to favor you 
more than another, but you must know that about a month 
ago I was walking by the river side, with all my ladies in 
waiting, and in pulling off my glove in order to take some 
refreshment that was served me, I drew from my finger a 
ring, which unfortunately fell into the stream. I valued it 
more than my kingdom. I leave you to imagine the grief 
its loss occasioned me. I have made a vow never to listen to 
any offers of marriage, if the ambassador, who proposes the 
husband, does not restore to me my ring. You now see, 
therefore, what you have to do in this matter, for though 
you should talk to me for a fortnight, night and day, you 
would never persuade me to change my mind. ” 

Avenant was much surprised at this answer: he made the 
princess a low bow, and begged her to accept the little dog, 
[ 161 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


the basket, and the scarf; but she replied that she would 
receive no presents, and bade him go and reflect on what 
she had said to him. When he returned to his lodgings, he 
went to bed without eating any supper, and his little dog, 
whose name was Cabriolle, would take none himself, and 
went and lay down beside his master. All night long Avenant 
never ceased sighing. “Where can I hope to find a ring that 
fell a month ago into a great river?” said he; “it would be 
folly to attempt looking for it. The princess only named this 
condition to me because she knew it was impossible for me 
to fulfil it. ” And then he sighed again, and was very sorrowful. 
Cabriolle, who heard him, said, “My dear master, I entreat 
you not to despair of your good fortune; you are too amiable 
not to be happy. Let us go to the river side as soon as it is 
daylight. ” Avenant gave him two little pats, without saying 
a word, and, worn out with grieving, fell asleep. 

Cabriolle, as soon as he saw daybreak, frisked about so 
that he waked Avenant, and said to him, “Dress yourself, 
master, and let us go out.” Avenant was quite willing; he 
arose, dressed, and descended into the garden, and from the 
garden strayed mechanically towards the river, on the banks 
of which he strolled with his hat pulled over his eyes, and 
his arms folded, thinking only of taking his departure, when 
suddenly he heard himself called by his name, “Avenant! 
Avenant!” He looked all around him, and could see nobody: 
he thought he was dreaming. He resumed his walk, when 
again the voice called, “Avenant! Avenant!” “Who calls 
me?” he asked. Cabriolle, who was very little and was look¬ 
ing close down into the water, replied, “Never trust me if 
[ 162 ] 


THE FAIR WITH GOLDEN HAIR 

it be not a golden carp that I see here.” Immediately the 
carp appeared on the surface, and said to Avenant, “You 
saved my life in the nettle-tree meadow, where I must have 
perished but for your assistance. I promised to do as much 
for you. Here, dear Avenant, is the ring of the Fair with 
Golden Hair.” Avenant stooped and took the ring out of his 
friend the carp’s mouth, whom he thanked a thousand times. 
Instead of returning to his lodgings he went directly to the 
palace, followed by little Cabriolle, who was very glad he 
had induced his master to take a walk by the river side. The 
princess was informed that Avenant requested to see her. 
“Alas! poor youth,” said she, “he is come to take leave of 
me. He is convinced that I required an impossibility, and 
he is about to return with these tidings to his master.” 
Avenant was introduced, and presented her with the ring, 
saying, “Madam, I have obeyed your commands. Will it 
please you to accept the king my master for your husband?” 
When she saw her ring quite perfect she was so astonished 
that she thought she was dreaming. “Really,” said she, 
“courteous Avenant, you must be favored by a fairy, 
for by natural means this is impossible.” “Madam,” he 
answered, “I am not acquainted with any fairy, but I 
was very anxious to obey you.” “As you are so obliging,” 
continued she, “you must do me another service, without 
which I never will be married. There is a prince not far from 
here, named Galifron, who has taken it into his head he will 
make me his wife. He declared to me his determination, 
accompanying it by the most terrible threats, that if I refused 
him he would lay waste my kingdom; but judge if I could 
[ 163 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


accept him. He is a giant taller than a high tower; he eats 
a man as a monkey eats a chestnut; when he goes into the 
country he carries in his pockets small cannons which he uses 
for pistols, and when he speaks very loud those who are near 
him become deaf. I sent word to him that I did not wish to 
marry, and that he must excuse me, but he never ceased to 
persecute me. He kills all my subjects, and before anything 
can be done you must fight him and bring me his head. ” 
Avenant was a little astounded at this proposition; he 
mused for a few minutes upon it, and then answered, “Well, 
madam, I will fight Galifron; I believe I shall be conquered, 
but I will die as becomes a brave man.” The princess was 
much surprised at his determination; she said a thousand 
things to prevent his undertaking the adventure. It was of 
no use. He withdrew to seek for weapons and everything 
else he might require. When he had made his preparations, 
he replaced little Cabriolle in his basket, mounted a fine 
horse, and rode into the dominions of Galifron. He inquired 
about him of all he met, and every one told him he was a 
very demon whom nobody dared approach. The more he 
heard of him the more his alarm increased. Cabriolle encour¬ 
aged him, and said, “My dear master, while you fight him I 
will bite his legs; he will stoop to rid himself of me, and then 
you can kill him easily.” Avenant admired the wit of the 
little dog, but he knew well enough that his help could be 
of little avail. At length he arrived in the neighborhood of 
Galifron’s castle. All the roads to it were strewed with the 
bones and bodies of men whom he had eaten or torn to pieces. 
He did not wait long before he saw the monster coming 
[ 164 ] 


THE FAIR WITH GOLDEN HAIR 


through a wood; his head was visible above the highest trees, 
and he sang in a terrible voice: 

“ Bring me babies, fat or lean. 

That I may crunch my teeth between! 

I could eat so many! so many! so many! 

That in the wide world there would not be left any!” 
Upon which Avenant immediately sang to the same tune: 
“Here is Avenant to be seen, 

Who comes to draw your teeth so keen; 

He’s not the greatest man to view, 

But he’s big enough to conquer you. ” 

The rhymes were not adapted to the music, but he made them 
in a great hurry; and it is really a miracle they were not much 
worse, for he was in a desperate fright. When Galifron heard 
these words, he looked about him in every direction, and 
caught sight of Avenant who, sword in hand, uttered several 
taunts to provoke him. They were needless however. He 
was in a dreadful rage, and snatching up an iron mace, he 
would have crushed the gentle Avenant at one blow, had not 
a crow lighted at that instant on his head, and with its beak 
most adroitly picked out both his eyes. The blood ran down 
his face, and he laid about him on all sides like a madman. 
Avenant avoided his blows, and gave him such thrusts with 
his sword, running it up to the hilt in his body, that at last 
he fell bleeding from a thousand wounds. Avenant quickly 
cut off his head, quite transported with joy at his good for¬ 
tune; and the crow, who had perched itself on the nearest 
tree, said to him, “I have not forgotten the service you 
rendered me in killing the eagle which pursued me. I promised 
[ 165 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 

you I would return the obligation. I trust I have done so 
today. ” “I owe all to you, Monsieur Crow,” replied Avenant, 
“and remain your obliged servant”; and forthwith mounted 
his horse, laden with the horrible head of Galifron. When he 
reached the city, all the people followed him, crying, “Behold 
the brave Avenant, who has slain the monster!” So that the 
princess, who heard a great uproar, and who trembled lest 
they should come and announce to her the death of Avenant, 
dared not inquire what had happened. But the next moment 
she saw Avenant enter bearing the giant’s head, which still 
impressed her with terror, although there was no longer any 
occasion for alarm. “Madam,” said Avenant to the princess, 
“your enemy is dead: I trust you will no longer refuse the 
king my master.” “Ah! pardon me,” said the Fair with 
Golden Hair; “but, indeed, I must refuse him, unless you 
can find means, before my departure, to bring me some water 
from the Gloomy Grotto. Hard by there is a deep cavern, 
full six leagues in extent. At the mouth of it are two dragons, 
who prevent any one from entering: flames issue from their 
jaws and eyes. Inside the cavern is a deep pit, into which 
you must descend: it is full of toads, adders, and serpents. 
At the bottom of this pit there is a small cavity, through which 
flows the fountain of Health and Beauty. Some of that water 
I must absolutely obtain. Whatever is washed with it becomes 
something marvellous. If persons are handsome, they remain 
so for ever; if ugly, they become beautiful; if young, they 
remain always young; if old, they become young again. You 
may well imagine, Avenant, that I would not quit my king¬ 
dom without some of this wonderful water.” “Madam,” 
[ 166 ] 


THE FAIR WITH GOLDEN HAIR 


lie replied, “you are so beautiful already, that this water will 
be quite useless to you; but I am an unfortunate ambassador, 
whose death you desire. I go in search of that which you 
covet, with the certainty that I shall never return.” The 
Fair with Golden Hair was immovable, and Avenant set out 
with the little dog Cabriolle to seek in the Gloomy Grotto 
the water of beauty. Everybody who met him on the road 
exclaimed, “’Tis a pity to see so amiable a youth wantonly 
court destruction. He goes alone to the grotto, when even 
if he had a hundred men to back him he could not accomplish 
his object. Why will the princess only demand impossi¬ 
bilities?” Avenant passed on without saying a word, but he 
was in very low spirits. 

Having nearly got to the top of a mountain, he sat down 
to rest a little, allowing his horse to graze and Cabriolle to 
run after the flies. He knew that the Gloomy Grotto was 
not far from that spot, and looked about to see if he could 
discover it. He perceived a horrible rock, as black as ink, 
out of which issued a thick smoke; and the next minute one 
of the dragons, casting out fire from his mouth and eyes. It 
had a green and yellow body, great claws, and a long tail, 
coiled round in more than a hundred folds. Cabriolle saw 
all this, and was so frightened he did not know where to hide 
himself. Avenant, perfectly prepared to die, drew his sword, 
and descended towards the cavern, with a phial which the 
Fair with Golden Hair had given him to fill with the water 
of beauty. He said to his little dog Cabriolle, “It is all over 
with me; I shall never be able to obtain the water which is 
guarded by those dragons. When I am dead, fill the phial 
[ 167 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


with my blood, and carry it to the princess, that she may see 
what she has cost me. Then go to the king my master, and 
tell him my sad story.” As he uttered these words, he heard 
a voice calling, “Avenant! Avenant!” “Who calls me?” 
he asked; and he saw an owl in the hollow of an old tree, who 
said to him: “You let me out of the fowler’s net in which 
I was caught, and saved my life. I promised I would do you 
as good a turn, and now is the time. Give me your phial. 
I am familiar with all the windings in the Gloomy Grotto. 
I will fetch you some of the water of beauty.” Oh, I leave 
you to imagine who was delighted! Avenant quickly handed 
the phial to the owl, and saw it enter the grotto without the 
least difficulty. In less than a quarter of an hour the bird 
returned with the phial full of water, and tightly stoppered. 
Avenant was in ecstasies! He thanked the owl heartily, and, 
re-ascending the mountain, joyfully took his way back to 
the city. 

He went straight to the palace and presented the phial 
to the Fair with Golden Hair, who had no longer an excuse 
to make. She thanked Avenant, gave orders for everything 
to be got ready for her departure, and finally set out with 
him on their journey. She found him an exceedingly agreeable 
companion, and said to him more than once, “If you had 
wished it, I would have made you king, and there would have 
been no occasion for us to quit my dominions.” But his 
answer was always, “I would not be guilty of such treachery 
to my master for all the kingdoms on the face of the earth, 
although you are to me more beautiful than the sun!” 

At length they arrived at the king’s capital city, and his 

[ 168 ] 


THE FAIR WITH GOLDEN HAIR 

majesty, hearing the Fair with Golden Hair was approaching, 
went to meet her, and made her the most superb presents in 
the world! The marriage was celebrated with such great 
rejoicings, that folks could talk of nothing else. But the Fair 
with Golden Hair, who secretly loved Avenant, was never 
happy when he was out of her sight, and was always praising 
him. “But for Avenant,” she would say to the king, “I 
should never have been here. For my sake he has done impos¬ 
sibilities. You should feel deeply indebted to him. He 
obtained for me the water of beauty. I shall never grow old, 
and I shall always remain handsome. ” The envious courtiers 
who heard the queen express herself thus, said to the king, 
“You are not jealous, and yet you have good cause to be so. 
The queen is so deeply in love with Avenant that she can 
neither eat nor drink. She can talk of nothing but him, 
and of the obligations you are under to him. As if any one 
else it had pleased you to send to her would not have done 
as much!” “That’s quite true,” said the king, “now I think 
of it. Let him be put in the tower, with irons on his hands 
and feet.” Avenant was accordingly seized, and in return 
for his faithful service to the king, fettered hand and foot in 
a dungeon. He was allowed to see no one but the gaoler, who 
threw him a morsel of black bread through a hole, and gave 
him some water in an earthen pan. His little dog Cabriolle, 
however, did not desert him; but came daily to console him 
and tell him all the news. When the Fair with Golden Hair 
heard of Avenant’s disgrace, she flung herself at the king’s 
feet, and, bathed in tears, implored him to release Avenant 
from prison. But the more she entreated, the more angry 
[ 169 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


the king became, for he thought to himself, “It is because 
she loves him”; so he refused to stir in the matter. The 
queen ceased to urge him, and fell into a deep melancholy. 

The king took it into his head that perhaps she did not 
think him handsome enough. He longed to wash his face 
with the water of beauty, in hopes that the queen would then 
feel more affection for him. The phial full of this water stood 
on the chimney-piece in the queen’s chamber: she had placed 
it there for the pleasure of looking at it more frequently; but 
one of her chamber maids, trying to kill a spider with a 
broom, unfortunately threw down the phial, which broke 
in the fall, and all the water was lost. She swept the fragments 
of glass away quickly, and, not knowing what to do, it sud¬ 
denly occurred to her that she had seen in the king’s cabinet 
a phial precisely similar, full of water, as clear as the water 
of beauty; so, without a word to any one, she adroitly man¬ 
aged to get possession of it, and placed it on the queen’s 
chimney-piece. 

The water which was in the king’s cabinet was used for 
the execution of princes and great noblemen who were con¬ 
demned to die for any crime. Instead of beheading or hanging 
them, their faces were rubbed with this water, which had the 
fatal property of throwing them into a deep sleep, from which 
they never awakened. So it happened one evening that the 
king took down the phial which he fancied contained the 
water of beauty, and rubbing the contents well over his face, 
he fell into a profound slumber and expired. The little dog, 
Cabriolle, was the first to hear the news of the king’s death, 
and ran with it to Avenant, who begged him to go and find 
[ 170 ] 


THE FAIR WITH GOLDEN HAIR 


the Fair with Golden Hair, and remind her of the poor prisoner. 

Cabriolle slipped quietly through the crowd, for there 
was great confusion at court, in consequence of the king’s 
death, and said to the queen, “ Madam, do not forget poor 
Avenant.” She immediately recalled to her mind all that he 
had suffered on her account, and his extreme fidelity. She 
left the palace without speaking to any one, and went directly 
to the tower, where with her own hands she took the irons 
off the hands and feet of Avenant, and putting a crown of 
gold upon his head, and a royal mantle over his shoulders, 
she said, “Come, charming Avenant, I make you king, and 
take you for my husband.” He threw himself at her feet in 
joy and gratitude. Everybody was delighted to have him for 
their master. His nuptials were the most splendid that ever 
were seen in the world, and the Fair with Golden Hair reigned 
long and happily with the handsome Avenant. 


[ 171 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


O NCE upon a time there was a king who was exceedingly 
rich both in lands and money. His wife died, and he 
was inconsolable. He shut himself up for a week in a 
little room, where he beat his head against the walls in the 
extremity of his affliction. Fearing he would kill himself, they 
put some mattresses between the tapestry and the wall, so 
that knock himself about as much as he pleased he could not 
do himself any mischief. All his subjects agreed amongst 
themselves that they would go to him and exert their utmost 
eloquence to moderate his grief. Some prepared grave and 
serious orations; others, agreeable, and even lively addresses; 
but none made the least impression upon his mind, for he 
scarcely heard a word they said to him. At last a female 
presented herself before him, so muffled up in black crape, 
veils, mantles and other long mourning garments, and who 
wept and sobbed so much and so loudly, that he was perfectly 
astonished. She told him she would not attempt, as others 
had done, to mitigate his sorrow; she came to augment it, 
as nothing could be more just than to lament the loss of a 
good wife; that for her own part, having lost the best of 
husbands, she had made up her mind to weep as long as she 
had eyes in her head; and thereupon she redoubled her 
groans, and the king, following her example, began to howl 
outright. He received this visitor with more attention than 
the others. He talked to her of the excellent qualities of his 
[ 172 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


dear departed, and she recapitulated all those of her beloved 
defunct. They talked so much of their~sorrow, that at last 
they were puzzled to know what more to say about it. When 
the cunning widow saw the subject was nearly exhausted, she 
raised her veil a little and the afflicted king refreshed his 
sight with the contemplation of this poor mourner, who rolled 
about her large blue eyes fringed with long black lashes in 
the most effective manner. Her complexion was still blooming. 
The king examined her with a great deal of attention. By 
degrees he spoke less and less of his wife: at last he ceased to 
speak of her altogether. The widow declared that she should 
never leave off mourning for her husband. The king implored 
her not to make sorrow eternal. In fine, to the astonishment 
of everybody, he married her, and the sables were changed 
into green and rose color. It is often only requisite to ascertain 
the particular foibles of persons to enable you to creep into 
their confidence, and do just as you please with them. 

The king had only had a daughter by his first wife, who 
was considered the eighth wonder of the world. She was 
named Florine because she was so sweet, young, and beautiful. 
She was seldom seen in splendid attire; she preferred light 
morning dresses of taffety, fastened with a few jewels, and 
quantities of the finest flowers, which produced an admirable 
effect when twined with her beautiful hair. She was only 
fifteen when the king was re-married. 

The new queen sent for her own daughter, who had been 
brought up by her godmother, the Fairy Soussio, but she was 
not more graceful or beautiful in consequence. Soussio had 
labored hard to make something of her, but had labored in 

[ 173 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


vain. She loved her dearly, though, notwithstanding. Her 
name was Truitonne, her face being covered with reddish 
spots like those on the back of a trout. Her black hair was so 
greasy and dirty that no one would venture to touch it, and 
oil oozed out of her yellow skin. The queen, her mother, 
doted on her; she talked of nothing but the charming Truitonne 
and as Florine possessed so many advantages over her daugh¬ 
ter, it exasperated her, and she sought, by every possible 
means, to injure the poor princess in the eyes of her father. 
Not a day passed that the queen and Truitonne did not play 
Florine some mischievous trick. The princess, who was mild 
as she was sensible, only endeavored to keep herself out of 
the reach of their malice. 

The king observed one day to the queen, that Florine and 
Truitonne were of an age to be married, and that they should 
bestow the hand of one of them on the first prince who visited 
their court. “I wish,” said the queen, “that my daughter 
should be married first; she is older than yours, and as she is 
a thousand times more amiable there can be no hesitation 
about the matter.” The king, who disliked argument, 
answered that he was quite willing it should be so, and that 
he left her to take any measures she pleased. 

A short time after this, it was announced that a visit from 
King Charmant might be expected. Never was any prince 
more celebrated for gallantry and magnificence. In mind 
and person he was charming, as his name implied. When the 
queen heard this news, she employed all the embroiderers, 
all the tailors, all the work-people of every kind, to make 
dresses for Truitonne, and requested the king to give nothing 
[ 174 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


new to Florine. She then bribed the waiting women to steal 
all the princess’s clothes, head-dresses, and jewels, the very 
day King Charmant arrived, so that when Florine went to 
dress she could not find even a ribbon. She knew well enough 
who had done her this good turn. She sent to purchase 
materials for a new dress, but all the tradesmen returned for 
answer, that they had been forbidden by the queen to furnish 
her with anything. She was left, therefore, with only the 
gown she had on her back, and which was very much soiled, 
and she was so ashamed of her appearance that, when King 
Charmant arrived, she hid herself in a corner of the hall. 

The queen received her royal visitor with great pomp, and 
presented her daughter to him, a complete blaze of magnifi¬ 
cence, which only made her look more ugly than usual. King 
Charmant turned his eyes from her as soon as possible. The 
queen endeavored to persuade herself that he was too much 
struck with her, and was afraid of committing himself. In 
this belief, she continually placed Truitonne before him. He 
inquired if there was not another princess named Florine. 
“Yes,” said Truitonne, pointing to her with her finger; 
“there she is, hiding herself, because she is not finely dressed.” 
Florine blushed, and looked so beautiful, so exceedingly 
beautiful in her confusion, that King Charmant was per¬ 
fectly dazzled. He rose immediately and bowed profoundly 
to the princess. “Madam,” said he, “your incomparable 
beauty renders the foreign aid of ornament quite unneces¬ 
sary.” “Sir,” replied she, “I own I am little accustomed to 
wear so disgraceful a dress as this, and I should have been 
better pleased to have escaped your notice.” “It would have 
[ 175 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


been impossible,” exclaimed Charmant, “for a princess so 
marvellously beautiful to be anywhere without attracting all 
eyes from the contemplation of any other object.” “Ah,” 
said the queen, greatly irritated, “it is pretty pastime to hear 
you pay these compliments! Believe me, sir, Florine is already 
vain enough; she stands in no need of such excessive flattery.” 
King Charmant quickly perceived the queen’s motives for 
thus speaking, but as he was not at all accustomed to con¬ 
strain his inclinations, he continued openly to manifest his 
admiration of Florine, and conversed with her for three whole 
hours. 

The queen in despair, and Truitonne inconsolable that the 
princess should be thus preferred to her, complained bitterly 
to the king, and compelled him to consent that, during the 
residence of King Charmant, Florine should be shut up in a 
tower, where they could not see each other; and, accordingly, 
no sooner had she retired to her apartments than four men in 
masks seized and carried her to a room at the top of the tower, 
where they left her in the greatest distress, for she saw clearly 
that she was thus treated in order to prevent her securing the 
affections of her royal admirer, with whom already she was 
much delighted, and would willingly have accepted him for 
her husband. 

As he was not in the least aware of the violence that had 
been used towards the princess, he awaited with the greatest 
impatience the hour when he hoped to meet her again. He 
talked of her to the gentlemen whom the king had placed 
about his person to do him honor, but, as they had been 
ordered by the queen, they said all the ill of her they could 
[ 176 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


imagine: that she was coquettish, inconstant, ill-tempered; 
that she tormented her friends and her servants; that it was 
impossible for any one to be more slovenly; and that she was 
so avaricious, that she would much rather be dressed like a 
poor shepherdess than spend the money allowed her by the 
king her father in the purchase of rich apparel befitting her 
rank. During all these details Charmant was suffering tor¬ 
tures, and could scarcely restrain his anger. “No,” he argued 
to himself: “it is impossible that Heaven would permit so 
worthless a soul to inhabit this masterpiece of nature! I admit 
she was badly dressed when I first saw her, but the shame she 
evinced proves that she was not accustomed to be so. What! 
Can she be ill-tempered and coquettish with such an enchanting 
air of mildness and modesty! It is not reconcilable with com¬ 
mon sense! I can much more easily imagine that the queen 
has caused her to be so slandered. She is only her stepmother, 
and the Princess Truitonne, her own daughter, is such an 
ugly creature that it would not be extraordinary if she were 
envious of the most perfect of human beings.” 

Whilst he thus reasoned with himself the courtiers about 
him readily imagined, from his manner, that he was not best 
pleased by their abuse of Florine. One, who was more astute 
than the rest, in order to discover the real sentiments of the 
prince, changed his tone and language, and began to extol 
the princess wonderfully. At the first words, Charmant woke 
up as from a deep sleep. He entered eagerly into the conver¬ 
sation. His features all lighted up with joy. O love! love! how 
hard thou art to hide! thou art visible everywhere — on a 
lover’s lips, in his eyes, in the tone of his voice; when we truly 
[ 177 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


love, silence, conversation, happiness, or misery, are equally 
demonstrative of the passion which absorbs us. 

The queen, impatient to learn if King Charmant was 
much smitten, sent for those whom she had placed in positions 
to acquire his confidence, and passed the rest of the night in 
their interrogation. Everything they reported only served 
to confirm the opinion she had formed that the king was in 
love with Florine. But how shall I describe to you the melan¬ 
choly state of that poor princess? She lay stretched on the 
floor in the keep of that terrible tower to which the masked 
ruffians had carried her. “I should be less to be pitied,” said 
she, “if I had been immured here before I had seen that 
amiable monarch. The recollection of him I cherish only 
serves to increase my distress. I cannot doubt but that it is 
to prevent my seeing him again that the queen has treated 
me thus cruelly. Alas, how fatal to my peace has been the 
little beauty it has pleased Heaven to bestow on me!” She 
then began to weep bitterly, so bitterly that her worst enemy 
would have pitied her if a witness of her affliction. Thus 
passed the night. 

The queen, who was anxious to win over King Charmant 
by every attention it was in her power to pay him, sent him 
presents of the most costly and magnificent dresses, made in 
the newest fashion of that country, and the Order of the 
Knights of Cupid, which she had compelled the king her 
husband to institute the day they were married, in honor of 
their nuptials. The badge of it was a golden heart, enamelled 
flame-colored, surrounded by several arrows, and pierced with 
one, with the words, “One alone wounds me.” The queen 
[ 178 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


had, however, for Charmant a heart cut out of a ruby, as 
large as an ostrich’s egg; each arrow was made of a single 
diamond about the length of a finger, and the chain to which 
the badge was appended was composed of pearls, the smallest 
of which weighed a full pound. In short, ever since the world 
has been a world, there was never anything like it. Charmant, 
at the sight of it, was so astonished that it was some time 
before he spoke a word. In the meanwhile they presented to 
him a book, the leaves of which were of the finest vellum, 
beautifully illuminated, and the binding covered with gold 
and jewels. In it the statutes of the Order of the Knights of 
Cupid were written in a gallant and tender style. They told 
him that the princess he had seen prayed him to be her knight, 
and had sent him this present. At these words he flattered 
himself that it came from her he loved. “How! does the lovely 
Princess Florine,” cried he, “honor me by this splendid and 
flattering mark of her consideration?” “Sire,” they replied, 
“you mistake the name; we come from the amiable Truitonne.” 
“Truitonne! is it she who would have me be her champion?” 
said the king with a cold and serious air; “I regret that I 
cannot accept the honor; but a sovereign is not sufficiently 
his own master to enter into any engagements he pleases. 
I know the duties of a knight, and would fain fulfil them all. 
I would, therefore, prefer foregoing the favor she designs me, 
proving myself unworthy of it. ” At the same time he replaced 
in the same corbeille, the heart, the chain, and the book, and 
sent them all back to the queen, who, with her daughter, was 
ready to choke with rage at the contemptuous manner in 
which the illustrious foreigner had declined so especial a 
[ 179 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


favor. King Charmant visited the king and queen as often 
as he was permitted the opportunity, in hopes of meeting 
Florine in the royal apartments. His eyes were everywhere 
in search of her. The moment he heard any one enter the 
room he turned sharply round towards the door, and seemed 
always restless and unhappy. The malicious queen easily 
guessed what was passing in his mind; but she appeared to 
take no notice of it. She talked to him only about parties of 
pleasure; and he returned her the most incongruous answers. 
At last he asked her plainly, “Where is the Princess Florine?” 
“Sir,” replied the queen haughtily, “the king her father has 
forbidden her to quit her own apartments until my daughter 
is married.” “And what motive,” inquired King Charmant, 
“can there be for making such a prisoner of that beautiful 
princess?” “I know not,” said the queen; “and if I did, I 
should not consider myself bound to inform you.” 

Charmant felt his anger rising fearfully; he cast an angry 
glance upon Truitonne, assuring himself in his own mind that 
that little monster was the cause of his being deprived of the 
pleasure of beholding Florine, and abruptly quitted the queen’s 
presence, which gave him too much pain. 

On his return to his own apartments he requested a young 
prince who had accompanied him, and to whom he was much 
attached, to gain over, at any cost, one of the princess’s 
attendants, in order that he might speak to Florine for one 
moment. The prince soon found some of the ladies of the 
palace whom he could venture to admit into his confidence, 
and one of them promised him that Florine should that very 
evening be at a little lower window, which looked upon the 
[ 180 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


garden, and from whence she could converse with Charmant 
provided he was exceedingly careful that no one should be 
aware of it; “for,” added she, “the king and queen are so 
severe that they will take my life if they discover I have 
favored the passion of Charmant.” The prince, delighted 
that he had so far succeeded in his mission, promised her 
anything she could desire, and ran to pay his court to his 
royal master, by announcing to him the hour of assignation; 
but the false confidant in the meantime went and told the 
queen what had occurred, and requested to know her com¬ 
mands. She immediately decided to place her daughter at 
the little window. She gave her particular instructions, and 
Truitonne attended to them all, notwithstanding her natural 
stupidity. 

The night was so dark it was impossible for King Charmant 
to discover the imposition, even had he been less confident, 
so that when he drew near to the window indescribably trans¬ 
ported with joy, he poured forth to Truitonne all the tender 
things he would have said to Florine, to convince her of his 
affection. Truitonne, profiting by the occasion, told him that 
she felt she was the most unfortunate person in the world, in 
having so cruel a stepmother; and that she should never cease 
to suffer all sorts of annoyances till the queen’s daughter was 
married. Charmant assured her, that if she would accept 
him for her husband, he should be enchanted to share with 
her his heart and crown; and thereupon he drew his ring from 
his finger, and placing it on one of Truitonne’s, he begged her 
to receive it as a token of eternal fidelity, and added that she 
had only to fix the hour for their flight. Truitonne made the 
[ 181 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


best answers she could to his urgent persuasions. He noticed 
they were not very sensible, and the circumstance would 
have given him some uneasiness but that he thought it arose 
from the terror she was in of being surprised by the queen. 
He left her only on condition that she would meet him again 
the next night at the same hour, which she promised faithfully 
to do. 

The queen, having heard of the happy success of this inter¬ 
view, felt satisfied she should obtain her ends completely. 
Accordingly, the day being fixed for the elopement. King 
Charmant prepared to carry off his beloved in a flying chariot, 
drawn by winged frogs, a present which had been made to 
him by a friend who was an enchanter. The night was exces¬ 
sively dark, Truitonne stole out mysteriously by a little door, 
and the king, who was waiting for her, received her in his 
arms with a hundred vows of everlasting affection. But as 
he was not anxious to be sailing about in his flying chariot for 
any long time before he married his beloved princess, he 
desired her to say where she would prefer their nuptials to be 
solemnised. She answered that she had a godmother, named 
Soussio, who was a very celebrated fairy, and she was of 
opinion they should go at once to her castle. Although the 
king was quite ignorant of the road, he had only to mention 
to his great frogs whither he wished to go. They were per¬ 
fectly acquainted with the whole map of the world, and in a 
very short time they wafted Charmant and Truitonne to the 
abode of Soussio. 

The castle was so brilliantly illuminated that the king 
would have discovered his mistake the moment he entered if 
[ 182 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


the princess had not carefully enveloped herself in her veil. 
She inquired for her godmother, contrived to see her alone, 
told her how she had entrapped Charmant, and intreated her 
to pacify him. “Ah! my child,” said the fairy; “the task will 
not be an easy one: he is too fond of Florine: I feel certain he 
will give us a great deal of trouble.” In the meanwhile the 
king was awaiting them in a saloon, the walls of which were 
of diamonds so pure and transparent that through them he 
could see Soussio and Truitonne in conversation together. 
He thought he must be dreaming. “How,” said he, “have 
I been betrayed? Have some demons brought hither this 
enemy of our peace? Comes she to disturb our nuptials? 
My dear Florine does not appear! Her father has perhaps 
pursued her!” He began to be the prey of a thousand dis¬ 
tracting conjectures. But matters looked still worse, when 
entering the saloon, Soussio, addressing him in an authoritative 
tone, said, “King Charmant, here is the Princess Truitonne, 
to whom you have plighted your troth; she is my goddaughter, 
and I desire you will marry her immediately. ” “ I! ” exclaimed 
he; “I marry that little monster! You must think me a vastly 
tractable person to make such a proposition to me. I have 
made no promise to her whatever, and if she has told you 
otherwise, she has—” “Hold,” interrupted Soussio, “and 
be not rash enough to fail in respect towards me!” “I 
agree,” replied the king, “to respect you as much as a fairy 
can be respected, provided you restore to me my princess.” 
“Am not I your princess, faithless one?” said Truitonne, 
showing him his ring. “To whom didst thou give this ring as 
a pledge of thy truth! With whom didst thou converse at the 
[ 183 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


little window if not with me?” “How then!” he cried, “have 
I been deceived and imposed upon?” “But no, no, I will not 
be your dupe! What ho! What ho! my frogs! my frogs! I 
would away instantly!” “Oho, it is not in your power without 
my consent,” exclaimed Soussio. She touched him, and his 
feet were fastened to the floor as if they had been nailed to it. 
“You may stone me to death, you may flay me alive,” cried 
the king, “but I will marry no one but Florine. I am resolved. 
You may therefore exercise your power upon me as you please!” 
Soussio tried in turn mildness, menaces, promises, prayers. 
Truitonne wept, shrieked, groaned, stormed, and became calm 
again. The king uttered not another word, looking on them 
both with an air of the greatest indignation; he made not the 
slightest answer to anything they said to him. 

Twenty days and twenty nights passed without their 
ceasing to talk; without eating, sleeping, or sitting down. 
At length Soussio, quite tired and out of patience, said to the 
king, “Well, since you are so obstinate that you will not listen 
to reason, choose at once whether you will marry my god¬ 
daughter, or do penance for seven years as a punishment for 
breaking your word.” The king, who up to this time had 
been perfectly silent, suddenly exclaimed, “Do what you will 
with me, provided I am freed from this wretch.” “You are a 
wretch yourself,” said Truitonne, in a passion. “A petty king 
like you, with your marsh-bred postures, to come into my 
country to break your word to me and insult me! Had you a 
groat’s worth of honor in you, could you behave in this 
manner?” “What affecting reproaches!” said the king in an 
ironical tone; “Behold what a mistake it is not to take so 
[ 184 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


lovely a person for one’s wife!” “No, no, she shall not be 
your wife,” screamed Soussio passionately; “you may fly 
out of that window if you like, for you shall be a blue bird 
for the next seven years!” At the same moment the king’s 
person undergoes a total change; his arms are covered with 
feathers and form wings; his legs and feet become black and 
diminutive, and furnished with crooked talons; his body 
shrinks — it is all garnished with long, fine, thin feathers of 
celestial blue; his eyes become rounder, and bright as two 
stars; his nose is but an ivory beak; a white crest rises on his 
head in the form of a crown; he sings and talks to perfection. 
In this state, uttering a cry of anguish at beholding himself so 
metamorphosed, he flies from the fatal palace of Soussio as 
fast as his wings can carry him. 

Overwhelmed with grief, he roams from branch to branch, 
selecting only the trees consecrated to love or sorrow. Now 
upon myrtles, now upon cypresses, he sings the most plaintive 
airs, in which he deplores his sad fate and that of Florine. 
“Where have her enemies hidden her?” said he. “What has 
become of that beautiful victim? Has the queen’s barbarity 
permitted her still to breathe? Where shall I seek her? Am 
I condemned to pass seven years without her? Perhaps during 
that period they will compel her to marry, and I shall lose for 
ever the hope on which alone I live. ” These various reflections 
afflicted the blue bird to such a degree that he would have 
welcomed death. 

On the other hand, the fairy Soussio sent Truitonne back 
to the queen, who was anxiously waiting to know how the 
nuptials had gone off. When she saw her daughter, and heard 
[ 185 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 

from her lips all that had happened, she put herself in a 
terrible passion, which recoiled upon the poor Florine. “She 
shall repent more than once,” said the queen, “her fascination 
of Charmant!” She ascended the tower, with Truitonne, 
whom she had dressed in her richest clothes, with a crown of 
diamonds on her head, a royal mantle, the train of which was 
borne by three daughters of the richest barons in the realm, 
and on her thumb King Charmant’s ring, which Florine had 
noticed the day they conversed together. Florine was greatly 
surprised to see Truitonne in such pompous apparel. “My 
daughter has come to bring you a wedding present,” said the 
queen. “King Charmant has espoused her; he loves her to 
distraction; never has there been such a happy couple.” 
Thereupon they displayed to the princess heaps of gold and 
silver tissues, jewels, lace and ribbons, contained in large 
baskets of gold filigree work. In presenting these objects, 
Truitonne took care Florine should see King Charmant’s 
brilliant ring, so that not being able to doubt her misfortune, 
she told them, with an air of desperation, to take from her 
sight such fatal gifts, that she would wear nothing but black, 
and, indeed, that she should soon be dead. So saying, she 
fainted, and the cruel queen, delighted to have succeeded so 
well, would not permit any one to assist her, but left her alone 
in the most wretched state imaginable, and went and mali¬ 
ciously reported to the king that his daughter was so madly 
in love, that nothing could equal the extravagances she com¬ 
mitted, and that great care should be taken to prevent her 
quitting the tower. The king told her to manage the matter 
exactly as she pleased, and that he should be perfectly satisfied. 

[ 186 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


When the princess recovered from her swoon, and began 
to reflect on the conduct they had pursued towards her, on 
the ill-treatment of her wicked stepmother, and the utter 
extinction of her hope one day to become the wife of King 
Charmant, her anguish became so keen that she wept the 
whole night long. In this wretched condition she sat at an 
open window uttering the most tender and touching lamen¬ 
tations. When day began to break she shut the window, but 
continued to weep. The following night she again opened the 
window, sobbing and sighing profoundly, and shedding a 
torrent of tears. Morning dawned, and she hid herself in the 
recesses of her chamber. In the meanwhile King Charmant, 
or, to speak more correctly, the beautiful blue bird, never 
ceased flying round the palace. He believed his dear princess 
was confined in it, and if her lamentations were distressing, 
his were no less so. He approached the windows as near as 
he could in order to look into the apartments; but the dread 
of being perceived and recognised by Truitonne prevented his 
doing exactly as he wished. “It would cost me my life,” said 
he to himself. 4 ‘Should these wicked princesses discover 
where I am they would be revenged upon me; I must keep 
aloof, or be exposed to the utmost peril.” For these reasons 
he took the greatest precautions, and rarely sang except dur¬ 
ing the night. There happened to be an excessively lofty 
cypress immediately in front of the window at which Florine 
usually sat. The blue bird perched upon it, and had scarcely 
done so when he heard some one complaining. “How much 
longer shall I suffer?” said the mourner; “will not death 
kindly come to my aid? Those who fear him see him too 
[ 187 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 

soon — I long for his coming, and he cruelly flies me. Oh, 
barbarous queen! what have I done to thee that thou shouldst 
detain me in this horrible captivity? Hast thou not ways 
enough to torment me? Thou hast only to make me witness 
of the happiness thy unworthy daughter enjoys in the society 
of King Charmant!” The blue bird had not lost one syllable 
of this complaint. He was so surprised that he awaited day¬ 
light with the greatest impatience in order to behold the 
afflicted lady, but before the morning dawned she had closed 
her window and retired. The bird, whose curiosity was 
awakened, failed not to return the following night. It was 
moonlight, and he saw a girl at a window of the tower, who 
commenced her lamentations. “Oh, fortune!” she exclaimed; 
“thou who flatteredst me with the prospect of reigning; thou 
who hadst restored to me a father’s love; what have I done 
to deserve being plunged thus suddenly into the bitterest 
grief? Is it at so early an age as mine that mortals begin to 
experience thy inconstancy? Return, thou cruel one; return, 
if possible. The only favor I implore of thee is to end my 
unhappy fate!” The blue bird listened attentively, and the 
more he did so, the more convinced he became that it was his 
amiable princess who was thus bewailing. “Adorable Florine,” 
he cried, “wonder of our days, why do you desire so speedily 
to terminate your own? Your misfortunes are not without 
remedy!” “Ah! who speaks to me,” cried she, “in such con¬ 
soling language?” “An unfortunate king,” replied the bird, 
“who loves you, and will never love any other than you.” 
“A king who loves me!” rejoined Florine; “is this a snare set 
for me by my enemy? But after all, what would she gain by 
[ 188 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


it? If she seeks to discover my sentiments, I am ready to own 
them to her frankly!” “No, my princess,” replied the bird; 
“the lover who addresses you is incapable of betraying you” 
—and as he uttered these words he flew to the window. 
Florine was at first much alarmed at the appearance of so 
extraordinary a bird, who spoke with as much sense as if 
he had been a man, and yet in the small sweet voice of a 
nightingale. The beauty of his plumage, however, and the 
words he uttered, soon reassured her. “Am I then permitted 
once more to behold you, my princess!” he exclaimed. “Can 
I taste of such perfect happiness and not die with joy! But, 
alas! how much is that happiness troubled by your captivity, 
and the condition to which the wicked Soussio has reduced 
me for seven years!” “And who are you, charming bird,” 
inquired the princess caressing him. “You have pronounced 
my name,” said the king, “and you pretend you do not know 
me?” “How! the greatest monarch in the world. King 
Charmant!” cried the princess; “can the little bird I hold in 
my hand be he?” “Alas, beautiful Florine, it is but too true!” 
replied the bird; “and if anything can console me, it is the 
feeling that I preferred this pain to that of renouncing my 
love for you.” “For me!” said Florine; “ah, do not attempt 
to deceive me. I know, I know that you have married Trui- 
tonne. I recognised your ring upon her hand. I saw her 
blazing with the diamonds you had given to her. She came to 
insult me in my sad prison, wearing the rich crown and royal 
mantle she had received from your hands, while I was laden 
with chains and fetters.” “You have seen Truitonne so 
arrayed?” interrupted the king. “She and her mother have 
[ 189 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


dared to tell you those jewels came from me? Oh, Heaven! 
is it possible that I hear such awful falsehoods, and that I 
cannot instantly avenge myself on the utterers! Know that 
they tried to deceive me, that by a base use of your name they 
succeeded in causing me to carry off the ugly Truitonne; 
but the instant I discovered my error I endeavored to fly from 
her, and eventually preferred being a blue bird for seven long 
years to failing in the troth I had plighted to you. ” 

Florine felt such lively pleasure in listening to the explana¬ 
tion of her amiable lover, that she no longer remembered the 
misery of her prison. What did she not say to him to console 
him under his sad circumstances, and to assure him that she 
would do no less for him than he had done for her! Day 
dawned, and the majority of the officers of the royal household 
had risen before the blue bird and the princess had ceased 
conversing. It cost them a thousand pangs to part, after 
agreeing that they would meet every night in the same manner. 

Their delight at having found each other was so great that 
there are no terms in which it can be expressed. Each, on their 
own part, offered up their thanks to love and fortune; but 
Florine’s happiness was alloyed by her anxiety respecting the 
blue bird. “Who will preserve him from the sportsman?” 
she asked, “or from the sharp talons of some eagle or hungry 
vulture, who will eat him with as much relish as if he were 
not a great king? Oh, Heaven! what would become of me if 
some of his light and delicate feathers, borne on the breeze 
to my window, announced to me the dreaded disaster!” This 
idea prevented the poor princess closing her eyes, for when 
one loves, fancies appear like facts, and what one would at 
[ 190 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


another time think impossible, seems certain to happen; so 
she passed the day in tears till the hour arrived for her to 
return to the window. 

The charming bird, hidden in aTiollow tree, had been all 
day occupied by the thought of his beautiful princess. “How 
happy I am,” said he, “to have found her! How fascinating 
she is! How deeply I appreciate the favor she shows me!” 
The tender lover counted every moment of the time he was 
condemned to pass in the shape which prevented his marrying 
her, and never was the termination of a period desired more 
ardently. As he was anxious to pay Florine every attention 
in his power, he flew to the capital city of his own kingdom, 
alighted on his palace, entered his cabinet through a broken 
pane of glass in one of the windows, pounced on a pair of 
diamond earrings, so perfect and beautiful that none in the 
world could be compared to them, took them that evening to 
Florine, and begged her to wear them. “I would do so,” 
she said, “if you visited me by daylight; but as I only see 
you at night, you must excuse me.” The bird promised he 
would contrive to come to the tower whenever she wished; 
upon which she put the earrings in her ears, and the night 
passed in tender conversation, as the preceding had done. 

The next day the blue bird returned to his kingdom, went 
to his palace, entered his cabinet by the broken window, and 
brought away the richest bracelets that had ever been seen. 
Each was made of a single emerald cut facet-wise, and hol¬ 
lowed in the middle so as to enable the wearer to pass her 
hands and arms through them. “Do you imagine,” said the 
princess to him, “that my affection for you can be measured 
[ 191 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


by presents? Ah, how you misjudge me!” “No, madam,” 
replied he; “I do not believe that the trifles I offer you are 
necessary for the preservation of your love, but mine will not 
permit me to neglect the least opportunity of evincing my 
respect for you, and when I am absent these little trinkets 
will recall me to your mind. ” Florine said a thousand kind 
things to him on the subject, to which he replied by as many 
no less tender. 

The following night the fond bird brought to his fair one a 
moderate sized watch, which was encased in a single pearl, 
the workmanship of which surpassed even the material. “It 
is useless to present me with a watch,” said the princess 
sweetly. “When you are absent the hours seem endless to 
me, and when you are with me they pass like a dream, so that 
I cannot exactly measure them.” “Alas, my princess,” 
exclaimed the blue bird, “I am exactly of your mind, and am 
certain that I feel the pain of absence and the pleasure of 
return even more deeply than you do!” “After what you have 
suffered to keep faith with me,” replied the princess, “I am 
bound to believe that your affection and respect cannot be 
carried further.” 

As soon as morning appeared, the bird flew back to his 
hollow tree, where he lived upon wild fruits. Sometimes he 
sang the finest airs, to the great delight of all who passed that 
way. They could see no one, so they fancied it must be the 
voice of a spirit. This opinion became so prevalent, that at 
last nobody dared enter the wood. A thousand fabulous adven¬ 
tures were related of those who had done so, and the general 
alarm insured the safety of the blue bird. Not a day passed 
[ 192 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


without his making Florine some present, either a pearl neck¬ 
lace, or the most brilliant and curiously wrought rings, dia¬ 
mond loops, bodkins, and bouquets of jewels in imitation of 
natural flowers, entertaining books, interesting medals, till 
at last she possessed a heap of marvellous valuables. She 
wore her jewels only by night to please the king, and in the 
daytime, having no other place to put them in, she hid them 
carefully in the straw of her mattress. 

Two years thus passed away without Florine once com¬ 
plaining of her captivity. How could she? She had the gratifi¬ 
cation of conversing all night with him she loved. Never were 
there made so many pretty speeches. Though the bird never 
saw any one, and passed the whole day in a hollow tree, they 
had a thousand new things to tell one another. The matter 
was inexhaustible. Their love and their wit furnished them 
with abundant subjects of conversation. 

In the meanwhile the malicious queen, who detained her 
so cruelly in prison, vainly endeavored to marry off Truitonne. 
She sent ambassadors with proposals to all the princes she 
knew the names of; but they were bowed out almost as soon 
as they arrived. “If your mission was respecting the Princess 
Florine, you would be received with joy,” was the answer; 
“but as for Truitonne, she may remain a vestal without any 
one objecting.” 

These tidings infuriated both mother and daughter against 
the innocent princess whom they persecuted. “How! does this 
arrogant creature continue to thwart us notwithstanding her 
captivity?” cried they. “Never can we forgive the injuries 
she has done us! She must have private correspondence with 
[ 193 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


foreign governments; she is therefore guilty, at the least, of 
high treason. Let us act on this suspicion, and use every 
possible means to convict her.” 

They sat so late in council together on this point that it 
was past midnight when they determined to ascend the tower 
to interrogate Florine. She was at the window with the blue 
bird, arrayed in all her jewels, and her beautiful hair dressed 
with a nicety not usual in afflicted persons. Her apartment 
and her bed were strewed with flowers, and some Spanish 
pastilles she had been burning diffused an exquisite perfume. 
The queen listened at the door. She fancied she heard an 
air sung by two persons (Florine had an almost heavenly 
voice), and the following words appeared to be given with 
great expression: 

“Oh, how wretched is our lot. 

And what pangs endure we not. 

Loving thus — thus forced to sever! 

But, though deep indeed our woes. 

In despite of cruel foes. 

Our fond hearts are join’d for ever.” 

A few deep sighs were heard at the termination of this little 
concert. 

“Ah, my Truitonne! we are betrayed,” exclaimed the 
queen, suddenly opening the door and rushing into the room. 
Fancy the alarm of Florine at this sight! She promptly 
pushed open the casement, in order to give the royal bird an 
opportunity to fly off unperceived. She was much more 
anxious about his preservation than her own; but he felt he 
had not the power to fly. His piercing eyes had discovered the 
[ 194 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


peril to which the princess was exposed. He had caught sight 
of the queen and Truitonne. How great his misery to know 
he was not in a state to defend her! They approached her 
like furies bent on devouring her. “Your intrigues against 
the state are detected/’ cried the queen. “Do not imagine 
your rank can save you from the punishment you deserve.” 
“Intrigues with whom, madam?” inquired the princess. 
“Have you not been my jailor these two years? Have I seen 
any other persons than those you have sent to me?” Whilst 
she spoke, the queen and her daughter examined her with 
unparalleled surprise. Her admirable beauty, and the extraor¬ 
dinary splendor of her attire, completely dazzled them. “And 
whence have you obtained, madam,” said the queen, “these 
jewels that outshine the sun? Would you have us believe 
there are mines in this tower?” “I have found them,” 
answered Florine; “that is all I know about it.” The queen 
fixed her eyes upon Florine, with a penetrating look, endeavor¬ 
ing to see what was passing in the very core of her heart. 
“We are not your dupes,” she cried; “you think you can 
deceive us: but, princess, we are aware of what you do from 
morning till night. These jewels have been given to you with 
the sole object of inducing you to sell your father’s kingdom. ” 
“I am in a good position to deliver it up,” replied Florine, 
with a disdainful smile; “an unfortunate princess, who has 
so long languished in captivity, can be of great service, cer¬ 
tainly, in a conspiracy of such a nature.” “And for whom, 
then,” added the queen, “are your tresses so coquettishly 
dressed? Your apartment is so redolent of perfumes, and 
your attire so magnificent, that you could not be grander 
[ 195 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


were you going to court . 59 “I have plenty of time on my 
hands,” said the princess; “it is not extraordinary I should 
strive to while away a few moments of it in the cares of my 
toilet. I pass so many in weeping over my misfortunes that 
the innocent occupation of the others cannot surely be a 
subject of reproach.” “Ay, ay, indeed! let us see,” said the 
queen, “if this innocent person is not in treaty with our 
enemies.” She began to hunt everywhere, and coming to 
the mattress she emptied it, and found such an immense 
quantity of diamonds, pearls, rubies, emeralds and topazes, 
that she could not imagine where they all came from. She 
had intended to hide in some place documents, the discovery 
of which would inculpate the princess. So when she thought 
nobody saw her, she was about to thrust them into the chim¬ 
ney, but by good luck the blue bird was perched upon it, 
who had eyes as sharp as a lynx, and who heard everything. 
“Beware, Florine!” he cried; “thy enemy is committing some 
treason against thee.” This voice so unexpected, frightened 
the queen so much that she dared not secrete the papers. 
“Madam , 55 said the princess, “you see that the spirits of the 
air are my friends.” “I believe,” exclaimed the queen, in a 
paroxysm of rage, “that you are leagued with demons; but, 
in spite of them, your father will do himself justice.” 
“Would to heaven,” cried Florine, “I had only to fear the 
fury of my father! but yours, madam, is much more terrible.” 

The queen left her, greatly disturbed by all she had seen 
and heard. She consulted with her friends as to what should 
be done to the princess. They observed that, if she were 
protected by some fairy or enchanter, any further persecution 
[ 196 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


of her would only irritate her powerful friend, and that it 
would be better first to endeavor to discover the mystery. 
The queen approved of this idea. She sent a young girl, who 
affected extreme simplicity, to sleep in Florine’s apartment, 
under the pretence that she was placed there to wait upon 
her. But it was not likely Florine would fall into so evident 
a trap. The princess looked on her, of course, as a spy, and 
it was impossible for her to feel more poignant affliction. 
“What, then! shall I never be able to converse again with 
the bird that is so dear to me?” said she. “He assisted me to 
support my misfortunes. I consoled him under his. Our 
affection was everything to us! What will become of him? 
What will become of me?” Thinking of all these things, she 
shed rivers of tears. She no longer dared go to the little win¬ 
dow, though she heard the bird fluttering around it. She was 
dying to open it; but she feared exposing the life of her dear 
lover. She passed a whole month without appearing at the 
casement. The blue bird was in despair. What complaints 
did he not utter! How could he live without seeing his prin¬ 
cess! He had never so keenly felt the pangs of absence and 
the misery of his metamorphosis. Vainly did he endeavor to 
seek out a remedy for either. After racking his brains, he 
could find no consolation anywhere, or in anything. 

The spy, who had watched day and night for a whole 
month, felt quite overpowered with drowsiness, and at last 
sunk into a sound slumber. Florine observed it. She opened 
her little window and said: 

“Bird as blue as cloudless sky, 

Hither, hither quickly fly!” 

[ 197 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


We give her own words, without the slightest alteration. 
The bird heard them so distinctly that he was at the window 
in an instant. What delight once more to behold each other! 
What a quantity of things they had to say to each other! 
They renewed their vows of love and fidelity a thousand and 
a thousand times. The princess being unable to restrain her 
tears, her lover was much affected, and did his best to console 
her. At last the hour of parting arrived, without the spy 
awaking, and they bade each other farewell in the most 
touching manner. 

The next day the spy again fell asleep. The princess lost 
no time in placing herself at the window, and calling as before: 

“Bird as blue as cloudless sky. 

Hither, hither quickly fly!” 

The bird immediately arrived, and the night passed, like the 
preceding one, without noise or discovery, at which the lovers 
were delighted. They flattered themselves that the spy found 
so much pleasure in sleeping that she would do so every night, 
and, in fact, the third passed as fortunately: but on the one 
following the sleeper, being disturbed by some noise, listened, 
without appearing to be awake, and peeping as well as she 
could, saw, by the light of the moon, the most beautiful bird 
in the world, who talked to the princess, caressed her with 
his claw, and pecked her gently with his bill. She overheard 
part of their conversation, and was exceedingly surprised; for 
the bird spoke like a lover, and the beautiful Florine answered 
him most tenderly. Day broke. They bade each other adieu; 
and, as if they had a presentiment of their coming misfortune, 
[ 198 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


they parted with extreme sorrow. The princess threw herself 
on her bed, bathed in tears, and the king returned to his 
hollow tree. The spy ran to the queen, and told her all she 
had seen and heard. The queen sent for Truitonne and her 
confidants. They talked the matter over for a long time, and 
arrived at the conclusion that the blue bird was King Char- 
mant. “What an affront!” cried the queen. “What an 
affront, my Truitonne! This insolent princess, whom I 
fancied was so wretched, was quietly enjoying the most 
agreeable conversation with that ungrateful prince! Oh, I 
will have such a terrible revenge that it shall be the talk of the 
whole world!” Truitonne begged her not to lose a moment, 
and, as she considered herself more interested in the matter 
than the queen, she was ready to die with joy at the thought 
of all that would be done to destroy the happiness of the lover 
and his mistress. 

The queen sent the spy back to the tower, ordering her 
not to evince any suspicion or curiosity, but to appear more 
sleepy than ever. She went to bed early and snored as loudly 
as she could. The poor, deceived princess, opening the little 
window, called: 

“Bird as blue as cloudless sky. 

Hither, hither quickly fly!” 

but in vain she called him the whole night long. He came not;/ 
for the wicked queen had caused swords, knives, razors and 
daggers to be attached to the cypress-tree, so that when he 
flew rapidly into it, these murderous weapons cut off his feet; 
and he fell upon others which lacerated his wings, and wounded 
[ 199 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


him so that with great difficulty he reached his own tree, 
leaving behind him a long track of blood. Why were you not 
there, lovely princess, to comfort that royal bird? And yet 
it would have been the death of her to have seen him in so 
deplorable a condition. He took no care to save his life, per¬ 
suaded that it was Florine who had been guilty of this cruel 
treachery. “Oh, barbarous princess!” he exclaimed mourn¬ 
fully, “is it thus thou repayest the most pure and tender 
passion that ever was or will be! If thou wouldst that I should 
die, wherefore didst thou not thyself perform the deed! 
Death had been sweet from thy hand! I sought thee with so 
much love and confidence — I suffered for thee, and suffered 
without complaining; and thou hast sacrificed me to the most 
cruel of women, our common enemy! Thou hast made thy 
peace with her at the price of my life! It is thou, Florine — 
thou who hast stabbed me! Thou hast borrowed the hand 
of Truitonne, and guided it to my bosom!” This fatal idea 
overwhelmed him, and he resolved to die. 

But his friend the enchanter, who had seen the flying frogs 
return with the car, but without the king, was so troubled to 
think what had become of him, that he went eight times 
round the world in search of him. He was on a ninth journey 
for the same purpose, when, in passing through the wood in 
which the poor king was lying, he, according to his usual 
custom, blew a long blast on his horn, and then cried five 
times, in a loud voice, “King Charmant! — King Charmant! 
where art thou?” The king recognised the voice of his best 
friend. “Approach,” he cried, “this tree, and behold the 
wretched king you love, bathed in his blood!” The enchanter, 
[ 200 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


much surprised, looked about him everywhere, without seeing 
any one. “I am a blue bird,” exclaimed the king, in a feeble 
and plaintive voice. At these words the enchanter found him, 
without more trouble, in his little nest. Another person might 
have been more astonished, but he was versed in every portion 
of the necromantic art. It cost him but a few words to 
staunch the blood which was fast flowing; and with some 
herbs he found in the wood, and over which he muttered a 
short spell, he cured the king as perfectly as if he had never 
been wounded. 

He then begged he would inform him through what adven¬ 
ture he had become a bird, and who had wounded him so 
cruelly. The king satisfied his curiosity, and told him that it 
must have been Florine who had revealed the amorous mystery 
of the secret visits he paid her, and who, to make her peace 
with the queen, had consented to have the cypress-tree filled 
with the daggers and razors which had hacked him almost to 
pieces. 

He exclaimed a thousand times against the treachery of 
the princess, and said he should have been happy if he had 
died before he had known the wickedness of her heart. The 
magician inveighed against her, and against all the sex: he 
advised the king to forget her. “What a misfortune it would 
be,” said he, “if you could continue to love the ungrateful 
girl! After what she has been guilty of towards you, one has 
everything to fear from her. ” The blue bird could not remain 
long of that opinion; he still loved Florine too dearly: and the 
enchanter, who knew his real sentiments, notwithstanding 
the pains he took to conceal them, said to him gaily: 

[ 201 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 

“Crush’d by Fortune’s cruel blow. 

Vainly Reason’s voice is heard; 

We but listen to our woe, 

Death to sage or soothing word. 

Leave old Time his work to do; 

All things have their sunny side; 

But till he turns it to our view. 

Nought but darkness is descried. ” 

The royal bird admitted the truth of the remark, and 
begged his friend to take him home and to put him in a cage, 
where he would be safe from a cat’s paw, or any murderous 
weapon. “But,” said the enchanter, “will you still remain 
five years in a condition so deplorable, and so little suited to 
your duties and your dignity? For, remember, you have 
enemies who assert that you are dead. They would seize your 
kingdom. I much fear you will lose it before you regain your 
proper form.” “Can I not,” asked the king, “enter my 
palace, and govern as I used to do?” “Oh,” exclaimed his 
friend, “the case is altered! Those who would obey a man, 
will not bow to a parrot: those who feared you while a king, 
surrounded by grandeur and pomp, would be the first to 
pluck out all your feathers, now you are a little bird. ” “Alas, 
for human weakness!” cried the king. “Although a brilliant 
exterior is as nothing compared to merit and virtue, it still 
possesses a power over the minds of men which it is difficult 
to combat. Well,” continued he, “let us be philosophers, 
and despise that which we cannot obtain: our lot will be none 
the worse for it.” “I do not give up a point so easily,” said 
the magician; “I still hope to hit upon some means for your 
restoration. ” 


[ 202 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


Florine — the wretched Florine — in despair at no longer 
seeing the king, passed her days and nights at the window, 
repeating unceasingly: 

“Bird as blue as cloudless sky, 

Hither, hither quickly fly!” 

The presence of her watchful attendant did not prevent her; 
her despair was so great that she was careless of consequences. 
“What has become of you. King Charmant?” she cried. 
“Have our mutual enemies caused you to feel the cruel 
effects of their rage? Have you fallen a sacrifice to their fury? 
Alas, alas! are you no more? Shall I never again behold you? 
or, weary of my woes, have you abandoned me to my hard 
fate?” What tears, what sobs followed these tender com¬ 
plaints! How did the absence of so dear and so amiable a 
lover lengthen the dreary hours of her captivity! The princess, 
oppressed, ill, thin, and sadly altered, could scarcely sustain 
herself; she felt convinced that everything most fatal had 
occurred to the king. 

The queen and Truitonne triumphed. Their revenge gave 
them more pleasure than the offence had caused them annoy¬ 
ance. And what was this offence, after all? King Charmant 
had refused to marry a little monster he had a thousand 
reasons to hate. In the meantime Florine’s father, who had 
reached a considerable age, fell ill and died. The fortunes of 
the wicked queen and her daughter assumed a new aspect. 
They were looked upon as favorites, who had abused their 
influence. The people rose, and ran in a body to the palace, 
demanding the Princess Florine, whom alone they would 
recognise as their sovereign. The enraged queen endeavored 
[ 203 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 

to carry matters with a high hand; she appeared in a balcony, 
and threatened the insurgents. The revolt became general; 
they broke into her apartments, pillaged them, and stoned 
her to death! Truitonne fled for protection to her godmother, 
the fairy Soussio, or she would have shared the fate of her 
mother. The grandees of the kingdom met immediately, and 
ascended the tower, where the princess was lying very ill. She 
knew neither of the death of her father, nor of the punishment 
of her enemy. When she heard the noise of persons approach¬ 
ing, she had no doubt but that they were coming to lead her 
to death. She was not in the least alarmed, for life had become 
hateful to her since she had lost the blue bird. Her subjects, 
flinging themselves at her feet, informed her of the happy 
change in her fortunes. She was quite indifferent to it. They 
carried her to the palace and crowned her. The great care 
that was taken of her health, and her own desire to seek out 
the blue bird, combined to restore her, and she was soon 
enabled to nominate a council to govern the kingdom during 
her absence. She then provided herself with jewels to the 
value of a thousand millions of francs, and set out on her 
journey one night quite alone, without any one’s knowing 
whither she was gone. The enchanter, who managed the 
affairs of King Charmant, not having sufficient power to 
undo what Soussio had done, decided upon seeking her and 
proposing some arrangement, under favor of which she would 
restore the king to his natural form. He ordered out his frogs 
and flew to the fairy, who was at that moment in conversation 
with Truitonne. Enchanters and fairies are on an equal 
footing. These two had known each other for five or six 
[ 204 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


hundred years, and during that time had quarrelled and made 
it up again a thousand times at least. She received him very 
politely. “What would my gossip?” said she (it is thus they 
all address one another). “Is there anything in my power 
that I can do for him?” “Yes, gossip,” answered the magician, 
“you can do everything I desire: it concerns one of my best 
friends, a king whom you have made very unhappy.” “Aha! 
I understand you, gossip!” cried Soussio. “I’m very sorry, 
but he has no mercy to hope for, unless he consent to marry 
my goddaughter. There she is in all her beauty, as you may 
see. Let him consider of it.” 

The enchanter was almost struck dumb at the sight of 
her, so hideous did she appear to him; nevertheless he could 
not resolve to leave without coming to something like an 
agreement with Soussio, for the king had run a thousand risks 
since he had lived in a cage. The nail on which the cage had 
been suspended had broken, and the cage, of course, had 
fallen to the ground with a severe shock to his feathered 
majesty. Minet, the cat, who happened to be in the room 
when this accident happened, gave the poor king a scratch 
on the eye, which nearly deprived him of the sight of it. On 
another occasion, they had neglected to give him any fresh 
water, and he barely escaped having the pip. A little rogue of 
a monkey, who had got loose, caught hold of some of his 
feathers through the bars of the cage, and spared him as little 
as he would have done a jay or a blackbird. But the worst of 
all was, that he was on the point of losing his kingdom. His 
heirs were daily trumping up some stories to prove he was 
dead. So, finally, the enchanter came to an understanding 

[ 20 5 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


with his gossip Soussio, that she should bring Truitonne to 
King Charmant’s palace, where she should reside for some 
months, which time the king should be allowed to make up 
his mind to marry her, and that during that period Soussio 
would permit him to resume his original form, with the 
proviso that he should become a bird again if he ultimately 
refused to espouse her goddaughter. 

The fairy presented Truitonne with some magnificent 
dresses, all of gold and silver, then seated her on a pillion 
behind herself on a dragon, and proceeded directly to the 
kingdom of Charmant, wdiom they found there with his 
faithful friend the enchanter. Three taps of Soussio’s wand 
and King Charmant was again the handsome, amiable, intelli¬ 
gent, and munificent sovereign he had been before his trans¬ 
formation; but dearly bought was the reprieve accorded to 
him. The mere thought of marrying Truitonne made him 
shudder. The enchanter reasoned with him as well as he was 
able, but made little impression on his mind. The king was 
less occupied w T ith the government of his dominions, than 
with devising means to prolong the period Soussio had 
allowed should elapse previous to his marriage with Truitonne. 

In the meanwhile Queen Florine, disguised as a peasant, 
with her hair all dishevelled and hanging about her ears to 
conceal her features, a straw hat on her head, and a sack upon 
her shoulder, proceeded on her journey, sometimes walking, 
sometimes riding, now by sea, now by land, making all pos¬ 
sible haste; but not being certain of her road, fearing every 
turn she took might be in the wrong direction, and lead her 
from her amiable monarch instead of towards him. One day 
[ 206 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


that she had stopped to rest herself beside a fountain, whose 
silvery waters flowed leaping over the little pebbles, she 
thought she would take that opportunity of washing her feet. 
She accordingly sat down upon the grassy bank, tied up her 
fair locks w T ith a ribbon, and put her feet into the little stream. 
She looked like Diana bathing on her return from the chase. 
A little old woman, who, bent almost double and leaning on 
a stout stick, was passing that way, stopped, and said to her, 
“What are you doing there, my pretty girl, all alone by your¬ 
self ?” “My good mother,” answered the queen, “I have 
plenty of company, for I am beset by sorrows, anxieties, and 
misfortunes!” and at these words her eyes filled with tears. 
“How! so young and weeping?” said the good woman. “Ah 
my child, do not give way to sorrow; tell me truly what is 
the matter, and I hope I may be able to comfort you.” The 
queen willingly told her all her misfortunes, the conduct of 
the fairy Soussio, and how she was at present in quest of the 
blue bird. 

The little old woman drew herself up as straight as pos¬ 
sible, changed suddenly her whole appearance, became lovely, 
young, and superbly attired, and smiling graciously on the 
queen, said, “Incomparable Florine, the king you seek is no 
longer a bird; my sister Soussio has restored him to his former 
shape. He is in his own kingdom. Do not afflict yourself; 
you will reach it, and succeed in your design. Here are four 
eggs; break one of them whenever you are most in need of 
assistance, and you will find in it what will be useful.” As 
she ended these words she disappeared. Florine felt much 
consoled by what she had heard; she put the eggs in her sack, 
[ 207 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


and resumed her journey towards the kingdom of Charmant. 

After walking eight days and nights without stopping, she 
arrived at the foot of a mountain, prodigiously high, all of 
ivory, and so steep that one could not keep one’s footing 
upon it. She made a thousand vain attempts, slipping down 
every time, till, tired out, and in despair at meeting with so 
insurmountable an obstacle, she laid herself down at the 
bottom of the mountain, determined to die there, when she 
recollected the eggs the fairy had given her. 

She took one out of her sack. “Let us see,” she said, “if 
the giver was not making game of me when she promised that 
I should find help in them in my need!” She broke it, and 
found inside some little golden cramps, which she fastened 
on her hands and feet. By the aid of them she climbed up 
the ivory mountain without the least trouble, for the points 
of the cramps entered the ivory, and prevented her slipping. 
When she had reached the top, she found herself in equal 
difficulty respecting the descent. All the valley was one sheet 
of looking-glass, around which upwards of sixty thousand 
women were standing and admiring themselves in it extremely, 
for this looking-glass was full two leagues in breadth, and six 
in height. Every one appeared in it exactly as they wished 
to be. The carroty-haired seemed to have locks of gold; a 
bad, coarse brown appeared a glossy raven black. The old 
looked young — the young never looked older; in fine, no 
fault could be seen in this wonderful mirror, and consequently 
it was resorted to by the fair sex from all parts of the world. 
It was enough to make you die of laughing to see the airs and 
graces the majority of these coquettes gave themselves. Nor 
[ 208 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


were the men less eager to consult this magical mirror, which 
was equally pleasing to them. To some it seemed to give fine 
curly hair, to others taller stature or better shape, a more 
martial mien or a nobler deportment; the ladies they laughed 
at laughed at them no less in return; so that the mountain 
was called by a thousand different names. No one had ever 
been able to get to the top of it, and therefore when Florine 
appeared on the summit, the ladies uttered shrieks of despair. 
“Where is that mad creature going?” they cried. “No doubt 
she knows how to walk upon glass, or the first step she takes 
she will break our mirror to pieces!” Upon which arose a 
terrible hubbub. The queen knew not what to do, for she 
saw the imminent danger of descending by that road. She 
broke another egg, out of which issued two pigeons attached 
to a car, which at the same time became sufficiently large for 
her to seat herself in it comfortably. The pigeons then gently 
descended with the queen, and alighted at the bottom with¬ 
out the least accident. “My little friends,” said she to them, 
“if you will convey me to the spot where King Charmant 
holds his court, you w T ill not oblige an ungrateful person.” 
The civil and obedient pigeons rested neither day nor night 
till they arrived at the gates of the city. Florine alighted, and 
gave each of them a sweet kiss, worth more than a royal 
diadem. 

Oh, how her heart beat as she entered the city! She stained 
her face that she might not be recognised. She inquired of 
some passengers where she could see the king. Some of them 
began to laugh at her. “See the king!” said they; “ho! what 
dost thou want with him, my young slut? Go, go, and clean 

[ 209 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


yourself! your eyes are not worthy the sight of such a monarch.” 
The queen made no reply, but passed on quietly, and asked 
the next persons she met the same question — Where should 
she place herself in order to see the king? “He is to go to the 
temple tomorrow with the Princess Truitonne, for he has at 
last consented to espouse her,” was the answer. 

Heavens! what tidings! Truitonne, the worthless Trui¬ 
tonne, on the eve of marriage with the king! Florine felt 
dying! she had no longer power to speak or move. She sank 
down on a heap of stones under a gateway, her face covered 
by her dishevelled hair and her large straw hat. “Unfortunate 
creature that I am!” cried she; “I have come hither but to 
swell the triumph of my rival, and witness her delight! It was 
for her, then, the blue bird deserted me! It was for this little 
monster that he was guilty of the most cruel inconstancy! 
While, plunged in grief, I trembled for his life, the traitor had 
already changed, and thinking no more of me than if he had 
never seen me, left me to lament his absence without a sigh!” 
When people are very miserable, they rarely have much appe¬ 
tite, so the poor queen sought out a lodging for the night, and 
went to bed without any supper. She rose with the sun, and 
hastened to the temple. After repeated rebuffs from the 
soldiers and attendants, she succeeded in obtaining admission. 
There she saw the king’s throne and that of Truitonne, whom 
the people already looked upon as queen. What affliction 
for so fond, so sensitive a creature as Florine! She approached 
the throne of her rival, and stood there leaning against a 
marble pillar. The king arrived first, looking more handsome 
and more fascinating than ever. Truitonne followed him, 
[ 210 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


richly attired, and ugly enough to frighten everybody. She 
frowned on perceiving the queen. “Who art thou,” said she, 
“to dare thus approach our august person and our golden 
throne?” “I am called Mie Souillon,” replied Florine; 
“I come from a great distance to sell you some curiosities!” 
and so saying, she took out of her sack the emerald brace¬ 
lets which King Charmant had given to her. “Aha!” said 
Truitonne, “these are pretty glass ornaments. Will you 
take a five-sous piece for them?” “Show them, madam, 
to some connoisseur,” said the queen, “and then we will 
make our bargain. ” Truitonne, who was as fond of the king 
as such a creature cquld be, and delighted to have a reason 
for addressing him, approached his throne, and showed him 
the bracelets, requesting his opinion of their value. The 
sight of them immediately recalled to him those he had 
given to Florine. He turned pale, sighed, and remained for 
some time without speaking; at length, fearing the observa¬ 
tions that might be made upon the agitation his conflicting 
emotions had occasioned, he made an effort to compose 
himself, and answered, “I believe these bracelets to be worth 
almost as much as my kingdom. 1 imagined there was but 
one such pair in the world; but here is certainly another very 
like it.” Truitonne returned to her throne, seated on which 
she looked less noble than an oyster in its shell. She asked 
the queen what was the least price she set upon the brace¬ 
lets. “You would find it difficult to pay, madam,” she 
answered; “I had better propose to you another sort of 
bargain. If you will obtain permission for me to sleep one 
night in the cabinet of echoes, which is in the king’s palace, 
[ 211 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


I will make you a present of my emeralds.” “Willingly, 
Mie Souillon!” said Truitonne, laughing like an idiot, and 
showing teeth longer than the tusks of a wild boar. 

The king made no inquiry as to whence the bracelets 
came, less from indifference to the person by whom they 
were presented (indeed, her appearance was not such as to 
inspire much curiosity), than from the invincible repugnance 
he felt to Truitonne. Now, it is fit you should know that 
while he was a blue bird, he had told the Princess Florine 
that beneath his apartments there was a cabinet, which was 
called the cabinet of echoes, so ingeniously constructed 
that the slightest whispers uttered therein could be heard 
by the king when reposing in his bedchamber; and as Florine’s 
intention was to reproach him for his inconstancy, she could 
not have imagined a better method. 

She was conducted to the cabinet by order of Truitonne, 
and immediately began her complaints and lamentations. 

“The misfortune I would fain have doubted is but too 
certain, cruel blue bird!” she cried. “Thou hast forgotten 
me! Thou lovest my unworthy rival. The bracelets which 
I received from thy disloyal hand could awake no remem¬ 
brance of me, so entirely hast thou banished me from thy 
recollection!” Her sobs here choked her utterance, and 
when she was again able to speak, she resumed her lamenta¬ 
tions, and continued them till daybreak. The king’s valets- 
de-chambre, who had heard her moan and sigh all night long, 
told Truitonne, who inquired why she had made such a dis¬ 
turbance. The queen answered that when she slept soundly 
she was in the habit of dreaming, and often talked aloud in 
[ 212 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


her sleep. As to the king, by a strange fatality he had not 
heard her. Since he had been so deeply in love with Florine, 
he never could sleep, so that when he went to bed they gave 
him a dose of opium, in order to obtain for him some repose. 

The queen passed a part of the day in great anxiety. “If 
he heard me,” thought she, “there never yet was such cruel 
indifference. If he did not hear me, how shall I manage to 
make him do so?” She possessed no more extraordinary 
curiosities; she had plenty of beautiful jewels; but it was 
necessary to find something which should particularly take 
the fancy of Truitonne. She therefore had recourse to her 
eggs. She broke one, and out of it came immediately a coach 
of polished steel, inlaid with gold, drawn by six green mice, 
driven by a rose-colored rat, and the postillion, who was also 
one of the rat tribe, was of a greyish violet color. In the coach 
sat four puppets, more lively and sprightly than any that 
were ever seen at the fairs of St. Germain or St. Laurent. 
They could do all sorts of wonderful things, particularly two 
little gipsies, who, for dancing a saraband or a jig, would 
not have yielded the palm to Leance. 

The queen stood enraptured at the sight of this new master¬ 
piece of necromantic art. She remained perfectly quiet till 
the evening, which was the time Truitonne usually took an 
airing. She posted herself in one of the walks, and set the 
mice galloping with the coach, rats, and puppets. This novelty 
so astonished Truitonne that she called out two or three 
times — “Mie Souillon! Mie Souillon! will you take five 
sous for your coach and set of mice?” “Ask the men of 
letters and learned doctors of this kingdom,” said Florine, 

[ 213 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


“what such a wonder is worth, and I will abide by the valua¬ 
tion of the best judge.” Truitonne, who was imperative 
about everything, replied, “Without offending me longer by 
thy filthy presence, tell me the price.” “All I ask,” said 
Florine, “is to sleep again in the cabinet of echoes.” “Go, 
poor idiot,” answered Truitonne, “thou shalt have thy 
wish”; and, turning to her ladies-in-waiting, “There’s a 
stupid creature,” said she, “to reap no greater advantage 
from such curiosities!” 

Night came. Florine uttered all the most touching 
reproaches she could think; of; but as vainly as before, for the 
king never omitted taking his opium. The valets-de-chambre 
said to one another: “That country wench must surely be 
mad! What is she muttering about all night?” “Notwith¬ 
standing,” observed some, “there is both reason and feeling 
in what she says.” She waited impatiently for morning, to 
ascertain what effect her words had produced. “What,” she 
cried, “has this barbarous man become deaf to my voice? 
Will he no longer listen to his dear Florine? Oh, how weak 
am I to love him still! How well do I deserve the scorn with 
which he treats me!” But in vain did she so reason; she could 
not divest herself of her affection for him. 

There was but one more egg left in her sack, to afford her 
further assistance. She broke it, and out came a pie composed 
of six birds, which were larded, dressed, and quite ready for 
eating; yet, nevertheless, sang admirably, told fortunes, and 
knew more about medicine than dEsculapius himself. The 
queen was enchanted at the sight of such a wonderful affair, 
and carried her talking-pie into Truitonne’s antechamber. 

[ 214 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


While waiting for her to pass, one of the king’s valets-de- 
chambre came up to her and said, “My friend, Mie Souillon, 
are you aware that if the king did not take opium to make 
him sleep you would disturb him dreadfully? for you chatter 
all night long in the most extraordinary manner.” 

Florine was no longer surprised that the king had not 
heard her: she took a handful of jewels out of her sack, and 
said, “I fear so little interrupting the king’s repose that if 
you will prevent his taking opium tonight, presuming that 
I sleep in the cabinet of echoes, all these pearls and diamonds 
shall be yours.” The valet-de-chambre consented, and gave 
her his word on the matter. 

A few minutes afterwards, Truitonne arrived. She per¬ 
ceived the queen, with her pie, which she pretended to be eat¬ 
ing. “What dost thou there, Mie Souillon?” said Truitonne 
to her. “Madam,” replied Florine, “I am eating astrologers, 
musicians, and physicians.” At the same moment all the 
birds began to sing more melodiously than sirens, and then 
to cry, “Give us a piece of silver, and we’ll tell you your 
fortune.” A duck that was particularly prominent, called 
out, in a voice louder than any of the others, “Quack! quack! 
quack! quack! I am a physician; I cure all disorders and 
every sort of madness, except that of love.” Truitonne, 
more surprised at so many wonders than ever she had been 
in her life, vowed it was an excellent pie, and that she would 
have it. “ Come, come, Mie Souillon, what shall I give thee 
for it?” “The usual price,” answered Florine; “permission 
to sleep in the cabinet of echoes — nothing more.” “Hold!” 
said Truitonne generously (for she was in a capital humor, in 
[ 215 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


consequence of her acquisition of such a pie), “thou shalt 
have a pistole into the bargain. ” Florine, happier than she 
had yet been, in the hope that the king would at length hear 
her, took her leave of Truitonne with many thanks. 

As soon as night came she requested to be conducted to 
the cabinet, ardently hoping that the valet-de-chambre would 
keep his word, and that, instead of giving the king his opium 
draught, he would substitute for it something that would 
keep his majesty awake. When she thought everybody else 
was asleep, she began her usual lamentations. “To how many 
perils have I exposed myself,” she said, “in search of thee; 
whilst thou hast fled from me, and wouldst marry Truitonne! 
What have I done to thee, thou cruel one, that thou shouldst 
thus forget thy vows? Remember thy metamorphosis, my 
favors, and our tender conversations!” She repeated them 
nearly all, her memory sufficiently proving that nothing was 
dearer to her than such recollections. 

The king was not asleep, and so distinctly heard the voice 
of Florine, and every word she uttered, that he could not 
imagine whence they proceeded; but his heart, penetrated 
with tenderness, recalled to him so vividly the person of his 
incomparable princess, that he felt his separation from her 
as keenly as he did at the moment the knives had wounded 
him in the cypress-tree. He began to speak aloud on his part, 
as the queen had done on hers. “Ah, princess,” said he, “too 
cruel to a lover who adored you! Is it possible that you can 
have sacrificed me to our mutual enemies?” Florine heard 
what he said, and failed not to answer him, and to inform 
him that, if he would grant Mie Souillon an audience, he would 
[ 216 ] 


THE BLUE BIRD 


be enlightened respecting all the mysteries which hitherto he 
had been unable to penetrate. At these words, the impatient 
king called one of his valets-de-chambre, and asked him if he 
could find Mie Souillon, and bring her to him. The valet-de- 
chambre replied that nothing could be more easy, as she was 
sleeping in the cabinet of echoes. 

The king knew not what to think. How could he believe 
so great a queen as Florine was disguised as a scullion? And 
yet, how could he imagine that Mie Souillon had the voice 
of the queen, and was in possession of such particular secrets, 
if she were not Florine herself? In this uncertainty he arose 
and dressed himself in the greatest hurry, and descended by 
a back staircase to the door of the cabinet of echoes, put of 
which the queen had taken the key: but the king had a master- 
key which unlocked every door throughout the palace. 

He found her arrayed in a light robe of white taffety, which 
she wore beneath her coarse disguise, her beautiful hair falling 
about her shoulders. She was lying on a couch, and a lamp at 
some distance shed on the scene but a feeble light. The king 
entered suddenly, and his love getting the better of his anger, 
the moment he recognised her he flung himself at her feet, 
bathed her hands with his tears, and felt ready to die with 
joy, grief, and the thousand different thoughts that rushed at 
once into his mind. 

The queen was not less moved. Her heart seemed to stop 
beating; she could scarcely breathe. She looked earnestly at 
the king without saying a word, and when she found strength 
to speak to him, she had no power to reproach him, the joy 
of beholding him again made her forget, for the time, the 
[ 217 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


cause of complaint she imagined she had against him. At 
length, they mutually explained, and justified themselves. 
Their affection revived stronger than ever, and all that 
embarrassed them was the fairy Soussio. But at this moment 
the enchanter, who was so fond of the king, arrived with a 
famous fairy, no other than she who gave the four eggs to 
Florine. After the first compliments had passed between 
them, the enchanter and the fairy declared that their power 
being united in favor of the king and queen, Soussio could do 
nothing against them, and that consequently their marriage 
would take place without delay. 

We may readily imagine the delight of these two young 
lovers. As soon as it was day the news was spread throughout 
the palace, and everybody was enchanted to see Florine. The 
tidings reached Truitonne. She ran to the king’s apartments. 
What was her surprise to find there her beautiful rival! The 
moment she attempted to open her mouth to abuse her, the 
enchanter and the fairy appeared, and changed her into a 
sow, which being called Truie in French, she still retained 
part of her name, and her natural disposition to grumble. 
She ran out of the room grunting, and thence into the kitchen 
courtyard, where the long peals of laughter with which she 
was received completed her despair. 

King Charmant and Queen Florine, delivered from so 
odious a person, now thought only of the nuptial f£te, the 
taste and magnificence of which were equally conspicuous. 

It is easy to conceive how great was their happiness after 
passing through such prolonged misfortunes. 


[ 218 ] 


PRINCESS PRINTANIERE 


O NCE upon a time there was a king and a queen who 
had several children, but they all died; and the king 
and queen were so very, very much afflicted that it 
was impossible to be more so, for they possessed considerable 
property, and only w r anted children to inherit it. Five years 
had elapsed since the queen had given birth to her last infant. 
Everybody believed she could have no more, because she 
fretted so excessively when she thought of all the pretty little 
princes she had lost. 

At length, however, the queen found she was likely to 
have another. Day and night she passed in thinking how 
she could best preserve the little creature she was about to 
bring into the world, what name it should bear, what dresses, 
what dolls, what toys she should give to it. 

It had been proclaimed by sound of trumpet, and bills 
had been posted up in all the highways, stating that all the 
best nurses should present themselves before the queen, that 
she might choose one for her child. Accordingly, behold them 
arrive from the four quarters of the world; nothing was to be 
seen but nurses with their babies. One day as the queen was 
taking the air in a great forest, she sat down, and said to the 
king, “Let us send for all the nurses hither, and choose one, 
for our cows have not milk enough to supply food for all 
these little children.” “Most willingly, my dear,” said the 
king: “come, let the nurses be summoned!” Lo! where they 

[ 219 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


all appear, one after the other, making a fine courtesy to the 
king and the queen; after which they placed themselves in a 
row, each standing under a tree. When they were all arranged, 
and their majesties had admired their fresh complexions, white 
teeth, and fine persons, they beheld, advancing in a wheel¬ 
barrow, propelled by two filthy little dwarfs, an ugly little 
woman, whose feet turned in, whose knees touched her chin, 
who had a great hump on her back, squinting eyes, and a skin 
blacker than ink. She held in her arms a little monkey, which 
she suckled, and spoke *a jargon nobody could understand. 
She approached to offer herself in her turn; but the queen, 
repelling her, cried, “Hence, you great fright! You are an 
ignorant creature to come before me dressed as you are! If 
you do not immediately retire, I wall have you removed by 
force.” The nasty old woman passed on grumbling exces¬ 
sively, and, dragged by her frightful little dw r arfs, went and 
placed herself in the hollow of a large tree, from whence she 
could see everything that occurred. 

The queen, who had ceased to think about her, chose a 
handsome nurse; but the instant she was appointed, a hor¬ 
rible serpent, which was concealed beneath some grass, bit 
her foot, and she fell down as if dead. The queen, much 
grieved at this accident, cast her eyes on another. Immediately 
an eagle came flying with a tortoise in its talons, and dropped 
it on the head of the poor nurse, w T hich was shivered to pieces 
like a glass. The queen, still more afflicted, called forward a 
third nurse, who, in her hurry to advance, stumbled against a 
thicket, full of long thorns, and knocked out one of her eyes. 
“Ah!” cried the queen, “I am most unfortunate today. It is 
[ 220 ] 


PRINCESS PRINTANIERE 


impossible for me to choose a nurse without causing her some 
mischief. I must leave the affair to my physician.” As she 
arose to return to the palace, she heard peals of laughter. She 
looked and saw behind her the wicked old humpbacked 
woman, who sat like an ape witlfher swaddled monkey in 
the wheelbarrow, mocking the whole company, and particu¬ 
larly the queen. Her majesty was so enraged that she would 
have flown at and beaten her, feeling assured that she was 
the cause of all this mischief to the nurses; but the humpback, 
with three taps of her wand, changed the dwarfs into winged 
griffins, the wheelbarrow into a chariot of fire, and rose with 
it into the air, uttering loud threats and horrible shrieks. 

“Alas, my darling, we are lost,” said the king; “it is the 
fairy Carabossa! The wicked creature has hated me ever 
since I was a little boy, on account of a trick I played her, 
putting some brimstone into her broth. From that moment 
she has always sought an opportunity to be revenged.” The 
queen began to weep. “ If I could have guessed who she was, ” 
said she, “I would have tried to make a friend of her. I’m 
sure I wish I were dead!” When the king saw her so deeply 
afflicted he said to her, “My love, let us go and consult on 
what step we should take”; and led her away, supporting her 
by the arm, for she was still trembling from the fright into 
which Carabossa had thrown her. 

When the king and queen reached their apartments they 
summoned their counsellors, caused all the doors and windows 
to be carefully closed, that nobody might hear a word that 
was uttered, and came to the resolution to invite all the fairies 
for a thousand leagues round to be present at the birth of 
[ 221 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


the child. Couriers were despatched immediately with very 
polite letters to the fairies, requesting them to take the trouble 
to attend the queen’s confinement, and to keep the matter a 
great secret, for they trembled at the idea of Carabossa’s 
hearing of it, and coming to make some disturbance. As a 
reward for their trouble, they were each promised a hongreline 
of blue velvet, a petticoat of amaranth velvet, a pair of slippers 
of crimson satin, slashed, a small pair of gilt scissors, and a 
case full of fine needles. 

As soon as the couriers had departed, the queen set to 
work with all her maids and servants to prepare the presents 
she had promised the fairies. She knew a great many, but 
only five answered their invitation. They arrived at the very 
moment the queen gave birth to a little princess. Behold 
them quickly closeted to endow her with precious gifts. The 
first endowed her with perfect beauty, the second bestowed on 
her infinite wit, the third the faculty of singing admirably, 
the fourth the talent of composition both in prose and verse. 
As the fifth was about to speak, a noise was heard in the 
chimney, like that of the falling of a huge stone from the top 
of a steeple, and Carabossa appeared all begrimed with soot, 
and shouting as loud as she could, “I endow this little creature 

“ ‘ With ill-luck in plenty, until she be twenty 

At these words the queen, who was in bed, began to cry, 
and beg Carabossa would have pity on the little princess. All 
the fairies said to her, “Alas, my sister! take off your spell 
again; what has this infant done to you?” But that ugly fairy 
kept grumbling to herself without making any reply, so that 
[ 222 ] 


PRINCESS PRINTANIERE 


the fifth, who had not yet spoken, tried to mend the matter, 
and endowed the princess with a long life of happiness after 
the period of the evil spell had expired. Carabossa only 
laughed at this, and sang twenty satirical songs, as she climbed 
up the chimney again. All the fairies remained in great con¬ 
sternation, but particularly the poor queen. She did not, 
however, neglect to give them the presents she had promised; 
she even added to them some ribbons, of which they are very 
fond. They were magnificently feasted; and at their departure 
the eldest advised that the princess should be lodged, till she 
completed her twentieth year, in some place where she could 
see no one but her own female attendants, and confined 
strictly to that spot. 

Thereupon the king had a tower built without a window, 
so that you could only see by candlelight. It was entered by 
a vault that ran a league underground. Through this sub¬ 
terranean passage everything was carried that was required 
for the nurses and the governesses. Every twenty paces there 
were massive gates that were kept closely shut, and sentinels 
were posted in every direction. 

The princess had been called Printaniere, because she had 
a complexion of lilies and roses, fresher and more blooming 
than the spring. Everything she said or did was admirable. 
She acquired a knowledge of the most difficult sciences with 
the greatest ease, and grew so tall and handsome that the 
king and queen never saw her without crying for joy. She 
sometimes begged they would stay with her, or take her with 
them, for she found herself dull, without well knowing why; 
but her parents always put her off with some excuse. Her 
[ 223 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 

nurse, who had never quitted her, and who did not lack sense, 
described to her occasionally the appearance of the world, 
and she comprehended her instantly as well as if she had seen 
it. The king frequently said to the queen, “My darling, 
Carabossa will be outwitted; we are more cunning than she is. 
Our Printaniere will be happy in despite of her predictions’’; 
and the queen laughed till she cried at thinking on the vexa¬ 
tion of the wicked fairy. They had had Printaniere’s portrait 
painted, and copies of it sent all over the world, for the time 
was approaching for her to leave the tower, and they were 
desirous that she should be married. She only wanted four 
days of being twenty. The court and the city were in great 
delight at the prospect of the speedy liberation of the princess, 
and their joy was increased by the news that King Merlin 
wished her to be the wife of his son, and that he had sent his 
ambassador, Fanfarinet, to propose for her in due form. 

The nurse, who told the princess all the news, informed her 
of this, and assured her that nothing in the w T orld could be a 
finer sight than the entry of Fanfarinet. “Ah! how unfortu¬ 
nate am I!” exclaimed the princess. “They coop me up here 
in a dark tower as if I had committed some great crime. I 
have never seen the sky, the sun, and the stars, of which they 
tell so many wonders. I have never seen a horse, a monkey, 
or a lion, except in a picture. The king and queen say that 
they will take me out of this place when I am twenty; but 
they only say so to make me patient, and I am certain they 
will let me die here, without my having done anything to 
offend them.” Thereupon she began to cry, so much — so 
much that her eyes swelled as big as one’s fist, and the wet- 
[ 224 ] 


PRINCESS PRINTANIERE 


nurse, and the foster sister, and the cradle-rocker, and the 
dresser, and the nursery-maid, who all loved her passionately, 
began also to cry, so much — so much that nothing was to 
be heard but sobs and sighs. It was a scene of utter despair. 
When the princess saw them worked up to such a pitch of 
grief she seized a knife and exclaimed, “There! there! I am 
determined to kill myself instantly if you do not find means 
to let me behold the grand entry of Fanfarinet! The king 
and queen will never know anything about it. Decide amongst 
yourselves whether you had rather I should cut my throat 
on the spot than that you should procure me this gratifica¬ 
tion!” At these words the nurse and all the others recom¬ 
menced crying still more bitterly, and resolved unanimously 
that they would enable her to see Fanfarinet, or die them¬ 
selves in the attempt. They passed the rest of the night in 
proposing various schemes, without finding any that were 
feasible, and Printaniere, who was almost out of her wits, 
continually exclaimed, “ Never again try to make me believe 
that you love me! You would find plenty of ways if you did. 
1 feel convinced that love and friendship could overcome 
every obstacle!” 

At last they decided they would make a hole in the tower 
on the side towards that part of the city by which Fanfarinet 
would arrive. They moved the bed of the princess from the 
wall, and immediately set to work all together, and without 
ceasing day or night. By dint of scraping they removed the 
plaster, and then the smaller stones. They got out so many 
that at last they effected an opening, through which, with 
considerable trouble, you might have passed a small needle. 

[ 225 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 

It was through this aperture that Printaniere saw the daylight 
for the first time! She was perfectly dazzled by it, and as she 
continued to peep through this little hole she saw Fanfarinet 
appear at the head of all his retinue. He was mounted on a 
white horse that pranced to the sound of the trumpets, and 
curveted admirably. Six flute-players preceded him: they 
played the finest opera airs, and six hautboys echoed them; 
after them came the trumpets and kettle-drums, making a 
great noise. Fanfarinet wore a dress embroidered all over 
with pearls, boots made of cloth of gold, a plume of scarlet 
feathers, ribbons in profusion, and so many diamonds (for 
King Merlin had rooms full) that the sun was not to be com¬ 
pared to him for brilliancy. Printaniere at the sight felt so 
completely beside herself that she could not move; and after 
pondering upon it for a short time vowed that she would 
never have any other husband than the handsome Fanfarinet, 
that there was no probability of his master being so agreeable, 
that she had no ambition, that as she had managed to exist 
in a tower, she could live very happily with him, if it were 
necessary, in some country chateau, that she would prefer 
bread and water with Fanfarinet to chickens and sweetmeats 
with another. In short, she was so eloquent on the subject 
that her women w T ere puzzled to imagine where she had 
acquired one quarter of the knowledge she displayed, and 
when they attempted to impress upon her a sense of her own 
dignity, and of the wrong she would be guilty of to herself 
as well as to others, she ordered them to be silent, without 
deigning to listen to them. As soon as Fanfarinet had arrived 
in the king’s dominions the queen came to fetch her daughter. 

[ 226 ] 


PRINCESS PRINTANIERE 


All the houses were hung with tapestry, and the windows 
filled with ladies; some had baskets of flowers, others of pearls, 
or of what was better, excellent sugar-plums, to shower upon 
the princess as she passed. 

They had commenced attiring her, when a dwarf arrived 
at the tower mounted on an elephant. He came from the five 
good fairies, who had endowed her ‘on the day she was born. 
They sent her a crown, a sceptre, a robe of gold brocade, a 
petticoat of butterflies’ wings of the most wonderful work¬ 
manship, with a casket still more marvellous; so stuck full 
was it with jewels it was accounted priceless; and such a mass 
of riches had never been seen before. The queen was ready 
to faint with admiration; as to the princess, she looked upon 
it all with indifference, for she could think only of Fanfarinet. 
The dwarf was thanked, and had a pistole given him for drink, 
and upwards of a thousand ells of nonpareil of all sorts of 
colors, with which he made himself very handsome garters, 
a bow for his cravat, and another for his hat. This dwarf 
was so very diminutive that when he had all this ribbon on 
you could not see him at all. The queen told him she would 
find something very beautiful to present in return to the 
fairies; and the princess, who was very generous, sent them 
several German spinning-wheels, with spindles made of cedar. 

They dressed the princess in all the greatest rarities that 
had been brought by the dwarf, and she appeared so extremely 
beautiful that the sun hid himself for shame, and the moon, 
who is not over-bashful, did not dare peep out while the 
princess was abroad. She proceeded through the streets on 
foot, over rich carpets, the people crowding round her, and 

[m] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


exclaiming/ 4 Oh, how handsome she is! Oh, how handsome 
she is!” 

As she passed along in this pompous array, with the queen 
and four or five dozen princesses of the blood-royal, not to 
mention upwards of ten dozen who had arrived from various 
neighboring states to assist at this f£te, the sky began to 
cloud over, the thunder growled, and rain and hail fell in 
torrents. The queen drew her royal mantle over her head, 
all the ladies did the same with their upper petticoats, and 
Printaniere was about to follow their example, when a noise 
was heard in the air of more than a thousand ravens, screech 
owls, crows, and other ill-omened birds, who by their croaking 
and hooting boded nothing good. At the same moment a 
horrible owl of prodigious size came flying at full speed, hold¬ 
ing in his beak a scarf of spiders’ webs, embroidered with bats’ 
wings, and let it fall upon the shoulders of Printaniere, amid 
long and loud shrieks of laughter, which proved too surely 
that it was a wicked trick of the fairy Carabossa. 

At this melancholy sight everybody began to weep, and 
the queen, more afflicted than any one, tried to pull off the 
black scarf; but it seemed nailed to her daughter’s shoulders. 
“Ah!” cried she, “this is our enemy’s doing! Nothing can 
appease her! In vain have I sent her fifty pounds of sweet¬ 
meats, as much double-refined sugar, and two Mayence hams; 
they have gone for nothing with her!” 

Whilst thus the queen gave vent to her sorrow, the whole 
company got wet through to their skins. Printaniere, think¬ 
ing of nothing but the ambassador, hastened on without 
saying a single word. Provided she could but charm him, 
[ 228 ] 


PRINCESS PRINTANIERE 


she cared neither for Carabossa nor her unlucky scarf. She 
wondered to herself that he did not come to meet her, when 
suddenly she saw him advancing in company with the king. 
Immediately the trumpets, drums, and violins executed a 
lively flourish. The shouts of the crowd were redoubled, and 
the general manifestations of joy were extraordinary. 

Fanfarinet had considerable sense; but when he saw the 
beautiful Printaniere in all her grace and majesty, he was so 
enchanted that, instead of speaking, he could do nothing but 
stutter; one would have thought he was tipsy, although he 
certainly had taken nothing but a cup of chocolate. He was 
in despair at finding that he had forgotten, in the twinkling 
of an eye, an oration he had studied every day for many 
months, and that he was so perfect in he could have spoken 
it in his sleep. 

While torturing his memory to recover it, he kept bowing 
profoundly to the princess, who, in return, made him half a 
dozen courtesies without any remark. At length she com¬ 
menced the conversation; and to relieve him from the embar¬ 
rassment in which she perceived him to be thrown, she said, 
“My Lord Fanfarinet, I can easily imagine that all your 
ideas are of the most charming description. I give you credit 
for the possession of infinite wit. But let us hasten to the 
palace. It pours in torrents; it is the wicked Carabossa who 
is drenching us in this way. When we are once under shelter, 
we may laugh at her malice.” He replied, with much gal¬ 
lantry, “That the fairy had wisely foreseen the conflagration 
that such bright eyes were certain to cause, and had sent a 
deluge of water to keep it under.” With these words he 

[ 229 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


offered his hand to lead her to the palace. She said to him, 
in a whisper, “I entertain sentiments for you which you 
would never imagine if I did not express them to you myself. 
It is not without some pain that I do so: but ( Honi soit qui 
mal y pense.’ Know therefore, my lord ambassador, that it 
was with admiration I saw you mounted on your beautiful 
prancing horse; that I regretted you came hither on any 
person’s account but your own. If you have as much courage 
as I have, we will not fail to find a remedy for this evil. Instead 
of marrying you in the name of your master, I will marry 
you in your own. I know that you are not a prince; but you 
please me as much as if you were one. We will fly together to 
some safe retreat. It will make a great talk for a time, and 
then someone will do the same thing, or worse, and the world 
will leave me alone to talk about her, and I shall have the 
gratification of being your wife. ” 

Fanfarinet thought he was dreaming, for Printaniere w T as 
a princess of such marvellous beauty and accomplishments, 
that but for this extraordinary fancy he never could have 
hoped for such an honor. He was unable even to answer her. 
Had they been alone he would have flung himself at her feet; 
he took, however, the liberty of squeezing her hand so hard 
that he hurt her little finger desperately; but she did not cry 
out, she was so exceedingly fond of him. 

As she entered the palace it resounded with the music of 
a thousand different instruments, with the strains of which 
voices, almost celestial, blended in such exquisite harmony 
that the listeners dared scarcely breathe for fear of making 
so much noise as would drown the softest note of it. 

[ 230 ] 


PRINCESS PRINTAN1ERE 


After the king had kissed his daughter on the forehead and 
on both cheeks, he said to her, “My pretty little lamb (for 
he called her by all sorts of endearing names), will you not 
be glad to marry the son of the great King Merlin? Here is 
Lord Fanfarinet, w r ho will be proxy for him, and conduct you 
to the finest kingdom in the world.” “Certainly, father,” 
said she, making him a low courtesy, “I will do whatever 
you please, provided my good mother consents.” “I consent, 
my darling,” said the queen, embracing her. “So, quick! 
let them serve up the dinner”; which they did directly. 
There were a hundred tables set out in a great gallery, and 
in the memory of man never did people eat so much — with 
the exception of Printaniere and Fanfarinet, who cared only 
to look at each other, and were so lost in their own thoughts 
that they forgot everything around them. 

After the banquet there was a ball, a ballet, and a play; 
but it was already so late, and they had eaten so much, that, 
notwithstanding all this, the company slept as they stood. 
The king and queen, overpowered with sleep, flung them¬ 
selves on a couch, the majority of the ladies and gentlemen 
snored, the musicians played out of tune, and the actors did 
not know what they were saying. Our lovers only were as 
lively as mice, and made a hundred little signs to each other. 
The princess, seeing there was nothing to fear, and that the 
guards, stretched on their straw beds, were as fast asleep as 
the rest, said to Fanfarinet, “Take my advice, let us profit 
by so favorable an opportunity, for if I wait for the marriage 
ceremony, the king will place ladies-in-waiting about me, 
and appoint a prince to accompany me to the court of your 

[ 231 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


King Merlin. We had better therefore be off at once as quick 
as we can.” 

She rose and took the king’s dagger, the hilt of which was 
incrusted with diamonds, and the queen’s headdress, which 
her majesty had taken off in order to sleep more comfortably. 
She gave her white hand to Fanfarinet for him to lead her 
forth; he took it, and putting one knee to the ground, “I 
swear,” said he, “eternal fidelity and obedience to your high¬ 
ness. Great princess, you sacrifice everything for me, what 
would I not do for you!” They quitted the palace; the 
ambassador carried a dark lantern, and through very muddy 
lanes they made their way to the port. They got into a little 
boat in which a poor old boatman lay fast alseep. They 
awoke him, and when he saw the princess so beautiful and 
finely dressed, with so many diamonds, and her scarf of 
spiders’ web, he took her for the goddess of the night, and fell 
on his knees before her; but as they had no time for trifling, 
she ordered him to put off immediately. It was at great risk, 
for there was neither moon nor stars to be seen; the sky was 
still cloudy with the remains of the storm Carabossa had 
raised. It is true there was a carbuncle in the queen’s head¬ 
dress, which gave more light than fifty flambeaux, and Fan¬ 
farinet (according to report) might have dispensed with his 
dark lantern. There was also in the headdress a precious 
stone which could render the wearer invisible. 

Fanfarinet asked the princess whither she wished to go. 
“Alas!” she replied, “I would go with you; I have no other 
desire in the world.” “But, madam,” rejoined he, “I dare 
not conduct you to the dominions of King Merlin. Hanging 
[ 232 ] 


PRINCESS PR1NTANIERE 


would be too good for me there/’ “Well,” said she, “let us 
go to the Island of Squirrels; it is sufficiently distant to prevent 
your being followed.” She ordered the boatman to make 
for it, and, although his boat was a very little one, he 
obeyed. 

As day began to dawn, the king, the queen, and all the 
court, having shaken their ears and rubbed their eyes a little, 
thought of nothing but proceeding to the marriage of the 
princess. The queen, in a great bustle, asked for the rich 
headdress she wanted to put on again. They looked for it 
in all the cupboards, and hunted for it even in the sauce¬ 
pans; but no headdress was to be found. The queen, very 
uneasy about it, ran up stairs and down stairs, into the cellar 
and into the garret. It was not to be found. 

The king, in his turn, wished to wear his brilliant dagger. 
With the same diligence they rummaged for it in every corner, 
and broke open quantities of chests and caskets, the keys of 
which had been lost for upwards of a century. They found 
a thousand curiosities in them: dolls that shook their heads 
and moved their eyes, golden sheep with their little lambs, 
candied lemon-peel and sugared almonds: but all this could 
not console the king. His despair was so great that he tore 
his beard, and the queen, out of sympathy, tore her hair, 
for, truth to say, the headdress and the dagger were worth 
more than ten cities as big as Madrid. 

When the king saw there was no hope of finding either 
again, he said to the queen, “My love, let us take courage 
and hasten to finish the ceremony which has already cost 
us so dear. ” He inquired for the princess. Her nurse advanced 
[ 233 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


and said, “My liege, I assure you that I have been seeking 
her these two hours in vain.” These words crowned the 
grief of the king and queen. The latter began to scream like 
an eagle that has lost its young, and fell down in a swoon. 
Never was anything seen so distressing. They flung more 
than two pailsful of Queen-of-Hungary water in her majesty’s 
face without bringing her to herself. The ladies and maids 
of honor wept, and all the valets exclaimed, “What, is the 
king’s daughter, then, lost?” The king, finding that the 
princess did not appear, said to his state page, “Go, seek 
Fanfarinet, who is asleep in some corner, that he may come 
and mourn with us.” The pages sought everywhere, every¬ 
where, and found him no more than they found Printaniere, 
the headdress, or the dagger. Here was an additional affliction 
which completed their majesties’ despair. 

The king summoned all his counsellors and officers; he 
entered, with the queen, a great hall, which had been hastily 
hung with black. They had put off their grand robes, and 
were each clad in a long mourning gown, girt with a cord. 
When they appeared in this attire, there was not a heart so 
hard that it was not ready to break. The hall resounded with 
sobs and sighs, and rivulets of tears ran down the floor. As 
the king had not had time to prepare a speech, he sat for three 
hours without uttering a word; at last he began thus: 

“Oyez! great folks and little! I have lost my beloved 
daughter Printaniere; I cannot tell whether she has melted 
away or been stolen from me. The queen’s headgear and 
my poignard, which are worth their weight in gold, have dis¬ 
appeared with the princess; and what is still worse, the 
[ 234 ] 


PRINCESS PRINTANIERE 


ambassador Fanfarinet is gone too. I much fear that the 
king his master, not hearing any tidings of him, will come 
hither to seek for him, and will accuse us of having made 
him into mincemeat. Notwithstanding all this, I might 
have endured my misfortunes with resignation, if I had had 
any money; but I confess to you frankly that the expenses 
of this wedding have ruined me. Consider, therefore, my 
dear subjects, what I can do to recover my daughter, Fan¬ 
farinet, et csetera. ” 

Everybody admired the king’s fine oration. Never before 
had he displayed so much eloquence. Lord Gambille, the 
chancellor of the kingdom, arose and spoke as follows: 

“Sire, we are exceedingly vexed at your vexation, and 
would willingly have sacrificed even our wives and our little 
children to have saved you from so much annoyance; but 
apparently this is a trick of the fairy Carabossa. The prin¬ 
cess had not completed her twentieth year; and as the whole 
truth should be told, I observed that she was constantly 
looking at Fanfarinet, and he at her. Perhaps love has 
played one of his usual pranks on this occasion.” 

At these words, the queen, who was very hasty, inter¬ 
rupted him: “Take care what you are saying, my Lord 
Gambille,” said she; “know that the princess is not the sort 
of person to fall in love with Fanfarinet; she has been too 
well brought up.” Upon this, the nurse, who had overheard 
everything, entered, and flung herself on her knees before 
the king and queen. “I come,” said she, “to confess the whole 
affair to you. The princess resolved to see Fanfarinet or die. 
We made a small aperture, through which she saw him enter 
[ 235 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


the city, and she vowed upon the spot that she would never 
marry any one else.” 

At these tidings, everybody grieved deeply, and acknowl¬ 
edged that the Lord Chancellor Gambille was a person of 
great penetration. The queen, exceedingly annoyed, rated 
the nurse, the foster-sister, the dresser, the cradle-rocker, and 
the nursery maid so soundly that another word would have 
killed them. 

Admiral Chapeau-Pointu, interrupting the queen, 
exclaimed, “Come, let us pursue Fanfarinet. There can be 
no doubt that that jackanapes has carried off our princess.” 
Everybody clapped their hands and cried, “Let us go!” 
Off went some to sea; others travelled from kingdom to 
kingdom, calling the people together by sound of drums 
and trumpets; and when a crowd had assembled, saying, 
“Whoever would obtain a beautiful doll, dry and wet sweet¬ 
meats, little scissors, a robe of gold stuff, and a handsome 
satin cap, has only to inform us whither the Princess Prin- 
taniere has fled with Fanfarinet.” The answer was always, 
“Pass on; w T e have not seen them.” 

Those who sought the princess at sea were more fortunate; 
for after a considerably long cruise they perceived one night 
something blazing in the distance like a great fire. They were 
afraid to approach it, not knowing what it could be; but all 
of a sudden this light appeared to stop at the Island of 
Squirrels; for, in fact, it was the princess and her lover with 
the great carbuncle which shed this wonderful lustre. They 
disembarked, and having given the good man who had rowed 
them a hundred golden crowns, bade him adieu, warning him, 
[ 236 ] 


PRINCESS PRINTANIERE 


as he valued the eyes in his head, not to say a word about 
them to any one. 

The first thing he met with was the king’s fleet, which 
he no sooner caught sight of than he tried to avoid it; but 
the admiral, having espied him, sent a boat after him, and the 
good man was so old and feeble that he could not pull fast 
enough to escape. They~soon came up with him, and brought 
him back to the admiral, who had him searched. They found 
on him a hundred gold crowns, brand new from the mint; for 
they had issued a new coinage in honor of the marriage of 
the princess. The admiral interrogated him, and to avoid 
answering, he pretended to be deaf and dumb. “Aha!” said 
the admiral, “tie me up this mute to the mainmast, and give 
him a sound lashing. It’s the best cure in the world for 
dumbness. ” 

When the old man found they were in earnest, he gave in, 
and confessed that a girl, more like a celestial than a human 
being, accompanied by a gentle cavalier, had commanded 
him to row them to the uninhabited Island of Squirrels. The 
admiral, on hearing these words, concluded immediately that 
it was the princess, and ordered the fleet to make sail for and 
surround the island. 

In the meanwhile, Printaniere, weary after her voyage, 
finding a spot of green turf under some spreading trees, laid 
herself down, and fell into a sweet sleep; but Fanfarinet, 
whose hunger far exceeded his love, did not allow her much 
time for repose. “Do you imagine, madam,” said he, waking 
her, “that I can remain long here? I can find nothing to eat. 
Though you were fairer than day, I can’t live upon love; I 
[ 237 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


must have some more substantial food. I have good sharp 
teeth and a very empty stomach!” “How! Fanfarinet,” 
replied she, “is it possible that this proof of my affection for 
you has so little effect? Is it possible that you can think of 
anything but your good fortune?” “I think much more of 
my misfortune,” exclaimed the ambassador. “Would to 
heaven you were in your dark tower again!” “Fair sir,” 
said the princess kindly, “be not angry, I pray you; I will go 
and hunt about everywhere, and perhaps I shall find some 
fruit.” “I hope you will find a wolf that will eat you up,” 
said Fanfarinet. The princess, much grieved, ran into the 
wood, tearing her fine clothes with the brambles, and her 
wdiite skin with the thorns. She was scratched as if she had 
been playing with cats. (This is what comes of loving young 
men; it brings nothing but trouble!) After having searched 
everywhere, she returned, very sad, to Fanfarinet, and told 
him she had found nothing. He turned his back on her, and 
left her, muttering between his teeth. 

The next morning they made another fruitless search; in 
short, they passed three days without eating anything but 
some leaves and a few cockchafers. The princess did not 
complain, though she was by far the most delicate. “I should 
be content,” said she, “if I were the only sufferer, and should 
not mind being starved provided you had enough to eat.” 
“You might die for what I care,” replied he, “if I had but as 
much as I wanted.” “Is it possible,” rejoined the princess, 
“that you would be so little affected by my death? Is this 
the end of all the vows you have made me?” “There is a 
vast difference,” said he, “between a man perfectly at his 
[ 238 ] 


PRINCESS PRINTANIERE 


ease, who is neither hungry nor thirsty, and an unhappy 
wretch at the point of death in a desert island.” “I am in 
the same danger,” continued she, “and yet I do not mur¬ 
mur. ” “You would do so with a good grace, truly,” answered 
he bluntly: “you chose to quit your father and mother to 
come rambling about here! Mighty comfortable we are!” 
“But it was for love of you, Fanfarinet!” said she, holding 
out her hand to him. “I could willingly have spared you the 
trouble,” said he; and thereupon he turned away from her. 

The princess, pained to the heart, began to weep so 
bitterly that it would have melted a stone. She sat herself 
down beneath a bush covered with white and red roses. 
After having contemplated them for some time, she said to 
them: “How happy you are, young flowers! The zephyrs 
caress you, the dew bathes you, the sun embellishes you, the 
bees love you, the thorns defend you. Everybody admires 
you! Alas! must you enjoy more tranquillity than I!” This 
reflection caused her tears to flow so plenteously that the 
roots of the rose-tree were quite soaked with them: she then 
perceived, to her great astonishment, that the bush became 
agitated, the roses expanded into fuller bloom, and the most 
beautiful one said to her: “If thou hadst not loved, thy lot 
would have been as enviable as mine. Who loves incurs the 
greatest of misfortunes! Poor princess, thou wilt find in the 
hollow of that tree a honeycomb; take it: but do not be simple 
enough to give any to Fanfarinet. ” The princess ran to the 
tree, scarcely knowing whether she was in a dream or wide 
awake. She found the honey, and the moment she had it 
she took it to her ungrateful lover. “Here,” said she, “is a 
[ 239 ] 


PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES 


honeycomb; I could have eaten it all by myself, but I pre¬ 
ferred sharing it with you.” Without thanking, or even 
looking at her, he snatched it from her and ate it all up, 
refusing to give her the least morsel of it. He added sarcasm 
even to his brutality, saying that it was too sweet, and would 
spoil her teeth, and a hundred similar impertinences. Prin- 
taniere, more than ever afflicted, sat down under an oak, and 
addressed it in much the same strain as she had the rose¬ 
bush. The oak, touched with compassion, bent down to her 
some of its branches, and said: “’Twere pity thou shouldst 
perish, lovely princess; take that pitcher of milk, and drink 
it without giving one drop to thy ungrateful lover.” The 
princess, perfectly astonished, looked behind her, and imme¬ 
diately perceived a large pitcher full of milk. She could think 
of nothing from that moment but the thirst which Fanfarinet 
might be enduring after eating more than fifteen pounds of 
honey. She ran to him with the pitcher. “Quench your 
thirst, handsome Fanfarinet,” said she; “but don’t forget 
to leave me a little, for I am parched and famishing!” He 
took the pitcher rudely from her, made but one draught of 
its contents, and then, flinging it on some stones, broke it 
in pieces, saying, with a malicious smile, “When one hasn’t 
eaten one isn’t thirsty.” 

The princess clasped her hands, and raising her beautiful 
eyes to heaven, exclaimed, “Ah, I have well deserved this! 
I am justly punished for having left the king and queen — for 
having so thoughtlessly loved a man of whom I knew nothing 
— for having fled with him without considering my rank, or 
reflecting on the misfortunes with which I was threatened by 
[ 240 ] 


PRINCESS PRINTANIERE 


Carabossa!” She then began to weep more bitterly than she 
had ever done in her life, and plunging into the thickest part 
of the wood, she sank exhausted at the foot of an elm, on a 
branch of which sat a nightingale that sang marvellously the 
following words, flapping his wings, as if he sang them only 
for Printaniere. He had learned them expressly from Ovid: 

“ Love is a wicked god. The little knave 
Ne’er grants a boon but to secure a slave; 

Beneath the cover of deceitful joys, 

His poison’d shaft the heart’s repose destroys. ” 

“Who can know it better than I!” exclaimed she, inter¬ 
rupting the bird. “Alas! I am too well acquainted with the 
cruelty of his shafts and that of my fate!” “Take courage,” 
said the amorous nightingale, “and look in this thicket: thou 
wilt find therein sweetmeats and tartlets from Le Coq’s; but 
do not again commit the imprudence of giving any to Fan- 
farinet. ” The princess needed not this prohibition to prevent 
her doing so. She had not yet forgotten the last two tricks 
he had played her; and besides, she was so very hungry that 
she began at once to eat the almonds and the tartlets. The 
greedy Fanfarinet, having perceived her eating by herself, 
flew into such a passion that he ran to her, his eyes flashing 
with fury, and his drawn sword in his hand, to kill her. She 
instantly uncovered the jewel of the headdress which rendered 
the possessor invisible, and, keeping out of his reach, reproached 
him with his ingratitude in terms which sufficiently proved 
that she could not yet positively hate him. 

In the meanwhile, Admiral Chapeau-Pointu had despatched 
Jean Caquet, with his straw boots, cabinet-courier in ordinary, 
[ 241 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


to tell the king that the princess and Fanfarinet had landed 
on the Island of Squirrels; but that, being unacquainted with 
the country, he was afraid of ambuscades. 

At these tidings, which gave their majesties much joy, the 
king sent for a great book, each leaf of which was eight ells 
long. It was the masterpiece of a learned fairy, and contained 
a description of the whole earth. The king learned thereby 
that the Island of Squirrels was uninhabited. “Go,” said he 
to Jean Caquet, “and order the admiral in my name to land 
instantly. It was very wrong of him, and of me, to leave my 
daughter so long with Fanfarinet.” 

As soon as Jean Caquet had returned to the fleet, the 
admiral ordered a grand flourish of drums, kettle-drums, 
trumpets, hautboys, flutes, violins, hurdy-gurdys, organs, 
and guitars. There was the most desperate uproar, for all 
these musical instruments of war and peace were to be heard 
incessantly throughout the island. Alarmed by the noise, 
the princess flew to her lover to offer him her assistance. He 
was by no means brave, and their mutual danger quickly 
reconciled them. “Keep behind me,” said she to him, “I 
will go first; I will uncover the jewel that renders the bearer 
invisible, and with my father’s dagger I will kill all I can of 
the enemy, while you kill the rest with your sword.” 

The invisible princess advanced to meet the soldiers. She 
and Fanfarinet killed numbers without being seen. Nothing 
was heard but cries of “I am slain!” “I am dying!” The 
troops fired in vain; they hit nothing, for the princess and her 
lover dived like ducks, and the balls passed over their heads. 
At length, the admiral, concerned at losing so many men in 
[ 242 ] 


PRINCESS PRINTANIERE 


so extraordinary a manner, without knowing who attacked 
him, or how to defend himself, ordered a retreat to be sounded, 
and returned to his ships to hold a council of war. 

Night was already far advanced. The princess and Fan- 
farinet took refuge in the thickest part of the wood. Prin- 
taniere was so tired that she lay down on the grass, and was 
just dropping off to sleep, when she heard a sweet little voice 
whisper in her ear, “Save thyself, Printaniere, for Fanfarinet 
would murder and devour you!” Quickly opening her eyes, 
she saw, by the light of the carbuncle, the wicked Fanfarinet, 
with his arm already raised to pierce her bosom with his 
sword; for, being very hungry, her whiteness and plumpness 
had tempted him to kill and eat her. She no longer hesitated 
about what she should do. She drew the dagger she had kept 
about her since the battle, and struck him with it such a blow 
in the eye, that he fell dead on the spot. “Ungrateful wretch!” 
she cried; “take that as the reward thou hast most deserved. 
Be thou an example for the future to all perfidious lovers; and 
may thy treacherous spirit never rest in peace!” When the 
first transports of her fury had subsided, and she thought of 
the situation she was in, she became almost as lifeless as him 
she had just slain. “What will become of me?” she exclaimed, 
weeping: “I am all alone in this island! W r ild bears will devour 
me, or I shall be starved to death.” She almost regretted she 
had not let herself be eaten by Fanfarinet. She sat herself 
down trembling, waiting for daylight, which she was most 
anxious to behold, for she was afraid of ghosts, and particu¬ 
larly of the nightmare. 

As she leaned her head against a tree, and looked up to 
[ 243 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


the sky, she observed, on one side, a beautiful golden chariot 
drawn by six great tufted hens, w T ith a cock for coachman, and 
a fat chicken for postillion. In the chariot was a lady, so 
handsome — so handsome that she resembled the sun. Her 
dress was embroidered all over with gold spangles and bars 
of silver. She saw also another chariot to which were har¬ 
nessed six bats. A crow was the coachman, and a beetle the 
postillion. In it was a frightful little monkey-faced woman, 
whose dress was made of a serpent’s skin, and upon her 
head a large toad by way of a fontange. 

Never — no, never in the world was any one so astonished 
as the young princess. As she contemplated these wonders, 
she suddenly perceived the chariots advance to meet each 
other; and the lovely lady wielding a golden lance, whilst the 
ugly one grasped a rusty pike, they commenced a furious 
combat, which lasted more than a quarter of an hour. At 
length, the beauty was victorious, and the fright flew away 
with her bats. The former immediately descended, and 
addressing Printaniere, said to her: “Fear nothing, amiable 
princess, I came hither only to serve you. The combat I have 
fought with Carabossa was only for the love of you. She 
claimed the right to whip you for having left the tower four 
days before you were twenty, but you perceive that I took 
your part and have put her to flight. Enjoy the happiness 
I have won for you.” The grateful princess flung herself at 
the lady’s feet. “Great queen of the fairies,” said she to her, 
“your generosity transports me! I know not how to thank 
you; but I feel that there is not a drop of this blood you have 
saved which I would not shed to serve you.” The fairy 
[ 244 ] 


PRINCESS PRINTANIERE 


embraced her three times, and made her more beautiful than 
she was before — supposing such a thing to be possible. 

The fairy ordered the cock to proceed to the royal fleet, 
and tell the admiral to approach without fear, and sent the 
fat chicken to her palace to fetch the most beautiful dresses 
in the world for Printaniere. The admiral was so overjoyed 
at the tidings brought him by the cock that he narrowly 
escaped a fit of illness. He came ashore instantly with all 
his men, including Jean Caquet, who, observing the hurry 
in which everybody left the ships, made as much haste himself, 
and threw upon his shoulder a spit, well loaded with game. 

Admiral Chapeau-Pointu had scarcely proceeded a league 
when he perceived in one of the great avenues of the forest 
the chariot drawn by hens in which the two ladies were 
riding. He recognised the princess, and was about to kneel, 
but she told him that all the honors were due to the generous 
fairy, who had saved her from the clutches of Carabossa; 
on which he kissed the hem of the fairy’s robe, and paid her 
the finest compliment that was ever uttered upon such an 
occasion. Before he could finish, the fairy interrupted him, 
exclaiming, “I vow I smell roast meat!” “Yes, madam,” 
said Jean Caquet, displaying the spit loaded with excellent 
birds; “it is only for your highness to desire to taste.” “Most 
willingly,” she replied; “less for my own sake than for that 
of the princess, who has need to make a good meal.” They 
immediately sent to the fleet for everything that was necessary, 
and the delight of having found the princess, joined to the 
good cheer, left nothing to be wished for. 

The repast being finished, and the fat chicken having 
[ 245 ] 


PERRAULT’S FAIRY TALES 


returned, the fairy dressed Printaniere in a robe of gold and 
green brocade, powdered with rubies and pearls. She tied 
up her beautiful hair with strings of diamonds and emeralds, 
crowned her with flowers, and placing her in the chariot, all 
the stars that saw her pass thought it was Aurora who had 
not yet made her appearance, and said as she went by, “ Good 
morning, Aurora.” 

After much leave-taking between the fairy and the prin¬ 
cess, the latter said, “ Shall I not, madam, have the pleasure 
of informing the queen, my mother, who it is that has done me 
such service?” “Beautiful princess,” replied she, “embrace 
her for me, and say that I am the fifth fairy who endowed you 
at your birth.” 

The princess having gone on board the admiral’s ship, 
they fired all the guns and more than a thousand rockets. 
She arrived safely in port, and found the king and the queen 
awaiting her, who received her with such caresses that she 
had no time to ask pardon for her past follies, though she had 
flung herself at their feet the moment she saw them. Paternal 
tenderness excused her completely, and all the fault was laid 
upon old Carabossa. At the same moment the son of the great 
King Merlin arrived, exceedingly anxious at not having heard 
any news of his ambassador. He came with a thousand horses 
and thirty servants, splendidly dressed in scarlet richly laced 
with gold. He was a hundred times more amiable than the 
ungrateful Fanfarinet. They took good care not to say any¬ 
thing to him about the little adventure of the elopement. It 
might perhaps have awakened a few suspicions. They told 
him the very plausible story that his ambassador being 
[ 246 ] 


PRINCESS PRINTANIERE 


thirsty, and endeavoring to draw some water to drink, had 
fallen into the well and been drowned. He believed it implic¬ 
itly, and the nuptials were celebrated amidst so much joy 
that all past sorrow was entirely forgotten. 


THE END 




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